Honestly, there was absolutely no reason for me not posting this chapter other than I got lazy.
Like, I had it written, but for some reason I just did NOT want to edit and post it. Not ashamed of it or anything, just didn't want to. And for that I am truly sorry. I am sure you guys have been wanting this conclusion-ish chapter for a while now, so here you go!
Now listed, I tend to write a lot of open-ended stuff. It's kind of my thing when I write one-shots. SO, I'm sorry if any of you hate me because I don't give it a definite ending. I just really like leaving things like this up for a bit of reader interpretation. It is a short-story after all, might as well spruce it up a bit right? Plus, I feel like drawing a definite conclusion after only one or two chapters (one-two shots) tends to make the story a bit tacky and cliched. I don't know, let me know what you guys think!
So here we are! I hope you guys enjoy and if you have any suggestions for story ideas with Kagome, let me know!
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Inuyasha or Avengers or Bucky Barnes (I wish) or anything MARVEL!
"I really love watching the sun rise."
If Bucky hadn't been so well-versed in the art of concealing outward reaction, he probably would have leapt a good ten feet in the air. Never before in the past couple weeks of them meeting up had they ever spoken to each other. They just didn't. It was like an unspoken law. A law that she had just broken without so much as a second thought.
Bucky remained silent because truthfully, he didn't know how to respond. He was ashamed to say that she had caught him so off guard.
As the seconds ticked by, Bucky waited to see if maybe she would elaborate. After awhile without any explanation, however, he decided to take what could have either been a huge risk, or a large step forward in his process of 'recovery'.
"Huh?"
Just like Bucky, Kagome didn't show the shock she felt when he had actually responded to her. It might have taken a few minutes, but he still responded none-the-less.
Kagome smiled at the thought.
"I think it's the serenity of the quiet morning air mixed with the breathtaking color scheme. It's just so relaxing."
Bucky took a moment to really take in her words before nodding ever so slightly.
"Yeah, it's calming."
And then they were back to silence.
However, even as the two basked in the familiarity of their voiceless language, the only language they had been using to communicate for the past couple of weeks, they knew something had changed. It might have been small, but it was still there.
After that first week of quiet meetings, Kagome slowly began to rely more on verbal greetings when arriving at their spot. Instead of a smile, she would give a quick "good morning" and instead of reading, she would ramble on about random, insignificant things. Things like how her week was going, what happened to her recently, and similar small-talk type of topics.
All the while, Bucky sat there quietly beside her, absorbing any and everything she said like it was the last thing he was going to hear. He couldn't help it. It had been so long since anybody had spoken to him like a human being; all he wanted to do was soak up the interaction while it lasted. Because there was no way that it was going to last. He knew more than anybody that the good things never last.
And this– talking to this woman– was a good thing.
It had been long enough for the doubts he had about the woman, who he had discovered was named Kagome, to disappear. If she wanted something from him, she would have taken it by now. If she wanted to hurt him, she would have done it by now. If she was going to turn him in, she would have by now.
But she didn't.
And for that, Bucky found himself slowly beginning to trust her. He was still wary around her and very cautious. It was nearly impossible for him to not be after all that's happened…
But everyone has to start somewhere. And that's exactly what Kagome was for him: his new start. He still wasn't quite sure what he was going to do with himself and wasn't completely sure of who was on his side, but at least now he had somewhere to start.
"I won't be here for the next couple of days."
Bucky froze. Without moving a muscle, his eyes shifted apprehensively towards the young woman sitting propped up against the front of the bench beside his, opting to sit on the grass instead of the bench itself. There hadn't been a single day in the past few weeks of meeting that either of them have missed, so hearing that she wouldn't be showing up for a few days threw Bucky off a bit.
It was quiet for a few moments.
"Why?" Bucky asked, his body still rigid. He had grown accustomed to their daily get-together's and found himself frustrated with how much this small adjustment in his schedule was bothering him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the way her expression dropped. He felt something in his stomach twist at the sight.
"I have to go home for a family visit."
Her words sounded forced, he noticed right away. Before his eyes even had the chance to narrow in suspicion, her head dropped and her body sagged in a manner that Bucky knew all too well.
Bucky felt that pit in his stomach begin to harden. His mind started racing with different possibilities as to what reasons Kagome, the bright, radiant Kagome that has helped guide him through so much shit over the past few months, could possibly have to express that look.
And then a strange urge washed over him. It was something he hadn't felt in such a long time, it seemed almost foreign to him.
It was the urge to protect her. The urge to make sure that whatever was causing her so much grief never touched her again.
Bucky tensed at the feeling. This was dangerous territory he was treading through. He might be a bit lost in terms of understanding his past, but one thing he knew for sure was that breaking off from HYDRA the way he did put a huge target on his back. Anybody even somewhat associated with him would be no more than a stepping stone in the way of finding HYDRA's "most valuable asset". Bucky knew Steve could handle himself and even if he couldn't, he was a part of a team who had his back. Kagome on the other hand?
Bucky mentally cringed. He couldn't even begin to imagine what they would do to her if they found out about her.
The innate instinct to protect what was close to him flared at the thought and he found himself speaking without a second thought.
"No."
Kagome's eyes widened at his gruff voice.
Her eyes then swiftly narrowed in the slightest, leaving Bucky to immediately regret his thoughtless course of action.
"What do you mean, no?" she asked with the same softness her voice always held, only Bucky knew better. Laced into her natural air of trust and understanding was a hint, just a hint, of curt reprimanding. This made Bucky wince, although he really had no idea why. All he knew was that he said something he shouldn't have and should have kept his mouth shut.
Shaking his head, he turned away from her and mumbled out a low "never mind".
Kagome looked at the man as he lowered his head like a child being scolded by their parent. She sighed. Whether he meant for it to come off the way it had or not, the innocence behind the gesture was still there and despite her unwillingness to have yet another person stake claim on her in that oh-so-possessive fashion she was unfortunately used to from the demonic feudal era, her frustration died down at the look on his face.
He looked so dejected. Of course, he tried hiding it, but she saw through the mask. She saw Bucky for all he was and she felt such a deep level of understanding for him that she couldn't possibly be angry over his decision to speak up for the first time since she had met him. She could clearly see that he had grown attached to her over the course of their time spent together, and if she were being completely honest with herself, she had grown quite fond of him as well.
And it was for that reason that she decided to be the one to apologize.
"I'm sorry Bucky," she said softly, scooting closer to his bench by a few inches. She moved slowly as to not startle her companion, making noises to let him know of her movements. While he refused to turn back to her, she knew he was listening so she continued. "I just… I really need to do this. It's been awhile since I've last seen them."
He nodded after a few moments and Kagome knew that they were good once again. She didn't even need to ask.
After a small bout of silence, Bucky had slowly inched back into his original front-facing position and Kagome had somehow managed to scoot her way over to the front of his bench without any reaction out of him.
"So," her voice was sudden, making Bucky aware of how close she now was to him. They had never been so close before, but he'd be lying if he said he minded. "How has your week been?"
His whole body relaxed. And not just his usual 'not-so-tense' type of relaxed he usually felt around her. No, he actually felt calm. For the first time in years, he felt at peace, and it was all because of her. It was in that moment that Bucky realized something important.
He realized how much he truly cared about Kagome.
He looked over her petite figure by his feet, causing his face to soften a bit. Yeah, he really cared about Kagome. He hated to admit it, but it was true.
He vowed right then and there that he would never let anything happen to the beautifully complex enigma sitting in front of him. Even if she told him she never wanted to see him again, he would continue watch after her. He didn't care if it was from the sidelines or not.
He would protect his new light and there was nothing anybody could say or do to stop him.
