Using Love
Chrysolite Heart
A/N: Alright, so we're going to go through a time skip here to six months later, please enjoy!
Chapter 3
The date with Kikyou had gone much better than good. Naraku had of course noticed large eyes of men following the couple around as he took her out to dinner but ignored them. It seemed as if Kikyou didn't notice, or maybe she was just used to it. Who knows? The evening had dragged, not because Kikyou wasn't interesting to talk to but because the façade was hard to always keep in check but things had gone smoothly and Kikyou's eyes never wandered to the long, dreamy stares of those around her.
6 months later…
"Kikyou, you must be crazy!" a high-pitched female voice exclaimed at Kikyou over the phone. Kikyou cringed inward slightly before taking a deep breath and trying to explain her decision over again with her mom.
"Mom, I know this might seem a bit quick but…" she trailed off as her mother continued to yell at her.
"What do you mean a bit quick?" her mother cried. "You've known this man for…6 months, was it?" her mother paused for a moment. Kikyou took advantage of the moment to jump in.
"Yes, I know it seems a bit rash but I know what I'm doing, Naraku's a really great guy mom, you would agree if you met him," Kikyou cut in, trying to explain her side of the story.
"Oh, I'm sure he is very decent but 6 months isn't enough to have really gotten to know each other, I really suggest you take things slower, dear," her mother interrupted again.
"My mom, just trust me on this one, ok? I've got to go, we'll continue this discussion later," Kikyou decided, she tried to keep her voice level and not let her annoyance sink through her tone. She heard her mom start up another argument on the other side of the phone and let a sigh slip through her lips. Quickly, pretending as if she hadn't heard her mother reply she hit 'off' on the phone and replaced it on the phone stand beside her.
"Well, that sounded nice," Naraku implied coyly. Kikyou turned to her boyfriend with an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, but maybe our decision was a bit quick," Kikyou said, thinking things over from her mom's point of view. Naraku chuckled and draped an arm over Kikyou's shoulders.
"But you're happy, right?" Naraku checked, giving Kikyou a light kiss on the forehead. Kikyou found herself sighing even though it was a familiar gesture. Naraku couldn't help but smile, it seemed as though Kikyou never grew tired of him. Inside he found himself feeling a bit guilty but didn't show it.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Kikyou asked brightly after a moment had passed. Naraku paused to think and Kikyou looked back to her left hand where a diamond ring glittered on her finger. She admired the way it shone as Naraku thought.
"I'm not sure, what do you feel up to today?" Naraku questioned, looking back at his fiancée. Kikyou shrugged.
"I guess we don't need to look for a house," Kikyou started to say, looking around at the large mansion they were standing in. "We could always just stay home for the day…unless you want to go outside," Kikyou added quickly.
"If you want to stay inside, that's what we'll do," Naraku decided. He glanced out the window. "Besides, it looks like it might rain anyway," Kikyou nodded in agreement.
"Are you hungry? We could start dinner," Kikyou suggested. It was strange that even in such a large house with so many things to do one could find it boring. Just then, Miroku walked into the room. He eyed Naraku before turning to Kikyou with a gracious smile.
"Uh…Kikyou, I'm not feeling so well…" Miroku started to say but stopped when Kikyou's eyes widened and she swiftly interrupted him.
"Oh! You're not feeling well?" Kikyou cried. She quickly rushed over to Miroku's side to examine him. Miroku smiled, it was a bit embarrassing to have her care so much but he was getting used to it.
"Do you need to go to the doctor's? Do you need medicine? Is there anything I can for you?" Kikyou demanded, question after question. Miroku laughed good-naturedly at the worried expression on Kikyou's face which immediately became confused.
"Don't worry; I don't need any of that. I've just got a bit of a headache and was wondering if I could hit the lights early today," Miroku told her with a grin.
Kikyou blinked and then laughed with him as she realized how much she had overreacted. Naraku watched with interest, a smile was playing on his face although he didn't realize it. There were many things he didn't realize when it came to Kikyou. Naraku shook his head and rolled his eyes until he stopped himself. What am I doing? Have I really become that attached to her? Naraku wondered at himself. He glanced back at Kikyou who was still laughing and felt his cheeks get a bit warm. Stop that! He commanded himself. I'm using her, she's nothing but a tool, the one I love is Kagura…so what are these strange feelings I'm having? Guilt? Naraku continued to ponder and didn't realize Kikyou dismissing Miroku and then turning back to look at him. She took a look at the confused and focused look on his face.
"Naraku?" she said his name quiet and tentatively. Naraku snapped out of his daze to meet her warm brown eyes.
"Sorry, did you say something?" Naraku asked her with a reassuring smile. Kikyou shook her head and walked over to him. He wrapped his arms around her firmly and for the first time noticed how well their bodies fit together with Kikyou's head tucked neatly under his chin. He found his heart begin to speed up, this had never happened to him before. He also realized how warm he felt with Kikyou in his arms and how relaxed and natural it seemed. His grip slackened a bit and Kikyou took it as a signal that he wanted to start on dinner.
"So, what do you want to eat?" she asked cheerfully, pulling herself back. Naraku blinked.
"Hmm…everything you cook is delicious, it doesn't really matter," Naraku told her sincerely. It was true, Kikyou was an excellent cook which was odd because her mother had never approved of the idea of Kikyou cooking and so had gotten other people to do the job whenever possible. Kikyou smiled.
"Well that's no fun, you must have a preference," Kikyou complained with a playful pout. Naraku smiled back and then suddenly realized how easy he found it to smile around Kikyou. I'm just a good actor; he told himself firmly and then thought about what he wanted for dinner.
"I'm not really up for anything too hard and it's been kind of cold out lately these days, what about some rice soup?" he suggested. (Rice soup is basically soup or a sort of broth with rice put into it, the rice is softened and of course already cooked and then you can add things like ground beef, carrots, peas and other things, it's absolutely delicious!) Kikyou nodded in agreement.
"That sounds good, I'll get it started," Kikyou decided. She scurried through the kitchen, picking out the things she would need while Naraku watched her intently. Kikyou's long hair sashayed back and forth on her back as she moved around. Without thinking, Naraku came up behind her and pulled her hair into a ponytail at the nape of her neck with a rubber band. Kikyou smiled gratefully.
"You should have tied it up before you started," Naraku told her. Kikyou rolled her eyes.
"I was getting around to that," she replied. She began cutting a pair of carrots down into small squares.
About an hour later the food was ready and Kikyou was spooning the hot soup into bowls. The smell was absolutely enticing.
"Mmm…that smells so good," Naraku commented, taking in the smell. Kikyou grinned.
"I hope so and I hope it tastes as good as it smells," she responded, setting a bowl down in front of Naraku with a spoon.
"I have no doubt it will," Naraku assured her. He waited for her to set her own bowl down across from him and then grinned as they both dug in. It was hot so he had to blow on his first spoon before putting it into his mouth and his mouth watered with impatience. It was worth it though, the soup was exhilarating and before long the large bowl was wiped clean. By that point, Kikyou was only finished half of her bowl when she looked up in surprise to see Naraku finished his.
"You need to relax, the soup is still hot. You'll burn your tongue off eating like that," Kikyou warned but she was smiling at the same time, pleased that he had enjoyed her cooking.
"Can I get seconds?" Naraku pleaded. Kikyou grinned.
"Is there anything in it for me?" she asked. Naraku grinned back and was around the table before she could blink. He turned her face towards him and nudged her nose playfully with his; she could feel his breath on her face.
"Ok, you can have seconds," she breathed, mesmerized. Naraku smiled.
"Thanks, love," he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers momentarily before drawing back. He still found it strange to kiss her, even though it was on a rare occasion he still felt subconsciously guilty to Kagura. Quickly, he grabbed his bowl and made his way over to the pot of soup. Kikyou felt as if she couldn't breathe for a moment and still couldn't be the time Naraku was back in his seat. Naraku couldn't help but feel smug when he saw her expression.
"Breathe Kikyou, darling," he commanded her. Kikyou drew in a deep breath and rolled her eyes away from him, she was blushing. Naraku couldn't help but note how cute she looked doing that but quickly berated himself again for thinking that way. You're supposed to be making her fall in love with you, not the other way around! He yelled at himself.
Late that night, Kikyou was escorting Naraku out the house. They stepped out into the cool and refreshing air. Naraku turned to face her.
"You should go inside, you could catch a cold," Naraku said in a stern voice. Kikyou laughed.
"Sometimes I think you worry about me too much, I'm not as fragile as you think," Kikyou teased. He smiled and then turned to head towards his car. Kikyou blinked, he wasn't really just leaving like that was he? She quickly raced after him and caught him in a hug from behind. Naraku was beyond surprised when Kikyou had her arms wrapped around him.
"Kikyou?" he asked, still in a bit of a daze and not sure how to respond. Kagura had never made a move on him; it had always been him to approach her.
"You didn't think you could just leave like that did you?" Kikyou asked in a tone that obviously showed she was a bit hurt. Naraku sighed and turned around, meeting her gaze when he got control over his body again. He wrapped her in his arms warmly and held her there, living through the sweet moment. No wait, cross out the sweet, his inner self told him. He ignored the annoying little voice and nuzzled Kikyou's hair. She smells like strawberries, Naraku noted to himself as he released her. He smiled at her again before ruffling her hair playfully.
"Ok, now go back inside. I'm serious about you catching a cold," Naraku warned her. Kikyou nodded and took a step back to let him go, she waited for him to drive away but he was waiting for her to go back inside the house until finally she gave up. She headed up the porch and closed the door behind her, watching Naraku leave through her window.
Naraku felt strangely hollow as he made his way home and he wondered why, it was a new feeling to him. His cellphone rang beside him and he picked it up, annoyed. He glanced at the number and realized Kagura was calling him but for some reason didn't feel like he wanted to talk to her, at least not yet. He snapped the phone shut and hit off. But why? Naraku's inner mind challenged him. Because I don't feel like it, Naraku growled back at it. Are you sure it has nothing to do about how you're feeling about Kikyou? The stupid little voice continued. No, it has absolutely nothing to do with…but Naraku found he couldn't finish what he was saying because deep down, he knew it was a lie. Damn it! I'm getting much too accustomed to her, this has to stop. I need to control myself, Naraku told himself, his hands clenched the steering wheel tighter. Kikyou means nothing to me, Kagura is my everything…Naraku continued but for some reason didn't feel quite so sure about this statement anymore.
A/N: What'd you think? Good or bad? Naraku's starting to develop some unwanted feelings but how long has he had these feelings? And how extreme will they get? What about Kagura, find out in the next chapter or chapters!