Together

* . * . *

Means that it's the same POV just a shift in time / place.

Chapter 4

= Inuyasha =

I felt him as he walked past me and I listened to his footsteps as he left. I stood there breathing and breathing and breathing until my knees buckled and I fell forward. He hadn't out rightly rejected me. He didn't call me a hentai or furiiku or tell me that he never wanted to speak to me again. Maybe, maybe at least our friendship was safe.

I looked down at the books and my eyes went to the leaf that was sticking out. I got to my feet and walked a few feet away from the path so no one would just come across me. I sat down with my back pressed against a very old and large tree. I crossed my legs and dropped my old book there along with the pen that was in it. I held the newer on in front of me.

I moved my hand over the surface of the book, then paused before reaching my fingers up to the leaf and opened the book at that page. There was his hand writing. It's the first time that I had seen it this way. I've always seen his writing with brush strokes. Even with the missing elements of what a brush brings to the act of writing, his words were still far better written than my own.

Without wanting to, I started to read what he had written.

I'm sorry for reading your writings Inuyasha. I'm sorry to say that this wasn't the first time that I've read what you wrote. My curiosity got the better of me the day you walked Kagome to the well. The first entry that I read made me feel bad for not being a better friend to you and I was about to close it and place it back under the log when I saw my name again and I couldn't stop from reading. I didn't think that you would have such thoughts about me. I do not want you to think that I might think less of you because of this. I was surprised that you could feel that way towards me, but I still think of you as a very valuable friend. One it seems, I could treat a little better.

I placed the book back after reading that second entry and I thought over what I read and a few things crossed my mind. Was this just some passing interest you had in me? Was this love you were feeling for me or was it just lust? So while you were sleeping at the spring I hid your books to read them after you left to find these answers.

I was surprised, touched, and shocked by the things I read in there. You opened my eyes to a few things that I hadn't thought of trying yet with a male or female. Yes, I have been with both males and females. I didn't read all your entries to leave you some secrets, but I was still left with questions. It's clear that you care deeply for me and that you wish to have very long nights with me, but I value our friendship and I don't want to lose that over something like this, if it isn't truly heartfelt.

Think this over. Do you really want to choose me over Kagome? Are you prepared to let anyone on this earth know that we are in love with each other? Do you believe that you love me that much?

For now I think it would be safer for us to talk to each other this way. We will pass this book back to the other when we have something to say, or ask about all of this. Place a leaf in the book where you wrote what you have to say or ask.

See you at dinner my friend.

I sat in stunned silence for a moment before lowering the book. My biggest fear of him hating me was chipped away as I read his words. He is willing to still be my friend if we didn't end up as a couple, not that that wasn't going to happen now. Now I have to convince him that I am truly in love with all of him and that I am ready to face the world at his side. I smiled for the first time since I left the hot springs earlier that day. I tilted my head back and smiled up at the sky, thanking Kami for the good fortune that I was given that day.

"…we are in love with each other?" Did I read that? My eyes few back to those pages and there it was. It did say 'we'. Does that mean that he had already liked me, but didn't do anything about it? If so, it's going to be easy and fun to get him to accept us, but first I have to give him answers to his questions. I opened the older book to get the pen, then I reopened the newer book to a new clean page. I sat looking at it as I thought of what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.

By the time I left that tree the ground was littered with three pages that had been torn into small pieces. Those didn't turn out the way I wanted. I wanted to make sure that he understood what I had to say and what I felt. I grabbed a leaf from the same bush he had used as I headed back and placed it in the book to mark the place where I laid open my heart and my intentions.

= Miroku =

"How long will you be gone?" I asked Sango as she continued to pack her bag. I turned my head to the window when I heard Shippo's laughter.

"Just a few days. I should be back before Kagome," she said.

"Are you sure you want to take Shippo with you?" I asked. I wasn't sure how well Kouga's tribe may take to the little fox.

"Yeah, it's not a problem. Besides, it would be nice for him to play with some other kids his age. There aren't many in the village." She paused in her packing. "I've heard some of the parents telling their kids not to play with him because he is a demon." I saw the anger pass over her face. "Besides," she continued. "He's not like you and Inuyasha who don't mind being alone," she finished as she slung the bag onto her back and then walked over to her hiraikotsu that was propped up next to the door. Its strap went across her body that she held in her right hand to help keep it on her back and in place. Her hair was out and falling down her back as she ducked to go outside. Personally I liked it when it was up in a pony tail, but she seemed to save that hair style for when she was going into battle.

"Have a safe journey," I told them from the top step. They had waited for me to step out before they waved and started to walk away from the village.

They were walking hand in hand with Shippo running a head of them, and they made a very happy looking couple if not family, even if it was an odd one.

No one had seen it coming, least of all Sango. First Kouga was trying to get Kagome to be his mate and he enjoyed challenging Inuyasha for her, then he joined our little group. He said that he was going to prove that Kagome was better off with him, than with Inuyasha, and that he was going to stay until she said yes to leave with him. Inuyasha had pulled Tetsusaiga on him in the middle of camp when he had said that. Kagome didn't do anything at first except look at him, not really caring what Inuyasha was doing. After all it wasn't the first time he had pulled his sword on the wolf demon. It was when we actually thought that he was going to use the wind scar that Kagome promptly released a string of osuwari's, which left him unable to move while Kagome sat Kouga down and got him something to eat saying that he was going to be of great help in gathering the jewel shards and fighting Naraku.

He ended up spending two months with us. Bit by bit all of us saw his attentions shift from Kagome to Sango. Everyone but Inuyasha and Sango that is. Kouga continued to woo Kagome until he realized that he was having a change of heart and when he told Kagome, he was a little surprised to find out that she already knew. I was 'meditating' at the time not too far way. When I stood up to let them know that Inuyasha would be happy to hear that, Kouga asked me not to tell him and to let him find out for himself. I agreed, but only because I didn't think that it would take as long as it did for it to sink in that Kouga was falling in love with Sango.

Two weeks before Kouga's time was up with us, I heard around the camp fire that they were now a couple. He had officially proposed and she had accepted. We were all happy for her but the cheering died down as we all thought that she was now going to be leaving us. She quieted our fears by saying that she wasn't leaving the group. Kouga was going to go back to his tribe and she was going to stay until our quest was completed.

For the rest of the time that Kouga was with us, the two of them slept apart from the rest of the group. I guessed that they were storing up time together for when they were going to be apart.

When the day came for him to leave, Inuyasha waited on the path with me and Shippo as Kagome and Sango bid Kouga goodbye. We heard him say that he was going to be back in a month and to take care of his woman. This was directed at Inuyasha who just looked at him while the rest of us looked at Sango as she blushed.

That was six months ago and about every month since he would stop by and spend a few days with us, but mostly with Sango. Today will be the first time that he takes her back to his tribe I think.

Kouga told me one night that the pack elders had been waiting for him to take a mate for a while now. That seemed to be the reason why he was staying with us before, so he could get Kagome to go back with him and have the whole matter settled. He also sounded very confident that Sango was going to be well accepted by the elders as well as his tribe, even if she was human.

I watched as they walked down a hill and out of sight. Now that just leaves me and Inuyasha. I thought to myself. This may not go the way I was hoping. I started to worry over what might happen with no one around to keep us, to keep him, I told myself, from acting out what he wanted. Then, as if to give my thought flesh, I saw Inuyasha coming up the path that lead to the hot springs.

= Inuyasha =

I saw him standing outside the hut that we were staying at and I paused before I started to climb the steps as I recognized a scent that I hadn't come across in a month's time. Kouga's scent was so strong that he could have been inside with Sango. I wasn't going to say anything to Miroku that he could overhear.

I walked up to Miroku's side and presented him with the book. I was looking at him as he looked into my face, before he looked down at the book. He started to reach for the book then paused. He paused? Then he continued to reach for the book and took it out of my hand.

I smiled inwardly as he took the book from me. Now, for Kouga. We weren't as much at odds as we use to be when he was trying to take Kagome from the group. How could he have expected me to let her go with him when we needed her to help find the jewel shards? Now, due to Sango, we wouldn't argue as much as we did before, but we insulted each other in passing all the same. I was thinking of a good come back for one or two things that he may say when Miroku walked past me and went inside.

I followed him into the hut and realized that it was empty and that Kouga's scent wasn't inside at all. I looked next to the doorway and saw that Sango's Hiraikotsu was missing.

"Did Sango and Kouga go hunting?" I asked Miroku, as I watched him sit down next to a dead fire pit. All six windows were opened so we didn't lack light. He sat looking at the book.

"Where's Sango?" I asked again. This time he looked up at me.

"She left with Kouga and Shippo," he answered.

"Shippo left too?" I asked.

"Yes. Sango said that she wanted him to play with some other kids," he answered back. "She felt he was having a hard time playing with anyone here because of their parents," he added.

"Oh," I commented. I knew how that could be. I had one or two friends growing up, but the friendships didn't last long once it was found out that they were playing with me and I was only a hanyou. I'm sure Shippo would have it a bit worse, being a full demon.

"So they went to Kouga's den? For how long?" I asked, as new possibilities floated though my head. We were alone. Alone in the hut. Just the two of us. Alone.

"A few days. No more than four. Sango said that she was going to be back before Kagome," he wasn't looking at me, but at the book. He was nervous. He was expecting something to happen now that I knew we were the only ones left here.

I did see this as a sign.

= Inuyasha =

"Ah… aahh." I heard his breath as it escaped past my left ear as I licked down his neck. He clung to me and I pushed my body down onto his, between the legs that I separated to get closer to him. I pulled his clothing away from his chest to kiss down his breast bone and then licked my way over to a nipple. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him to me as he squirmed under my lips.

My fingers started to dig into his back as I felt his lower half start to rub into me in a very disturbing way. I wasn't planning on going that far yet. I eased my hold on him a little at a time while I moved my lips back to kissing his. I kissed with less need and pulled away from him more and more with longer breaths of time in between until I was sitting back watching him as he still held on to my happi coat.

We looked into each other's eyes before I focused on his whole face. I wondered if he was looking at my skin the same way I was looking at his as the heat left, turning it back to its normal coloring. I reached out and touched his neck again and his eyes closed. I saw his skin start to heat up again and I quickly covered him, so we wouldn't end back up where we just came from.

I pulled his purple robes back into place and slowly stood up as his fingers fell from my fire-rat coat.

"I'll see if can find a rabbit for dinner. Or would you want fish instead?" I asked him as I reached the door way.

"Fish. It would cook faster and I'll get some rice from Kaede," he said without looking up.

I turned around and left without saying a word. I think I might hang out there a bit longer than needed to give him a chance to read what I wrote for him.

= Miroku =

Blank. My mind was blank. Nothing. I have no clue what just happened. We were talking about Kouga and Sango and the few bits of news I got from Kouga about his pack. I was a bit nervous about being alone with Inuyasha tonight and was pleased to see him interested in something else other than me. Maybe I dropped my guard too much.

I turned my back for a moment and he had wrapped his arms around me. As good as I felt, I pulled out of the hug to tell him that I didn't want to damage our friendship before we both knew that this was what we wanted, but he kissed me. His hot lips captured, suck and licked me. I fell back against the wall and he went with me. He is a good kisser. I just remember holding on to him to keep from slipping away. Soon he was pulling away and I did not want him too.

When he touched my neck again I didn't even try to stop him. I almost gasped as I felt the heat from his hand move into me. I was ready for more and I grabbed his coat tighter, but I think he changed his mind and covered me up before he moved away. I let my hands drop from him in disbelief that I was so easily pulled along. I was the one who was talking about saving our friendship, yet here I am, throwing away my so said resolve faster than a girl who actually thought that I would be a good father for our children.

I needed to get out of here. I need to go outside and breathe some cooler air. I looked around and saw the empty hut. Yes, Inuyasha went to get some fish. I stood and fixed my robes as I prepared to go see Kaede for some rice. I reached down to pick up the clean but cold rice pot from above the fire pit when I saw the green leaf bent onto the book. I picked it up and held the leaf up with my thumb just to have it fall back broken when I moved it away.

Great. Was that an omen of things to come? I put it in the sleeve of my robe and grabbed my staff before I left in search of Kaede.

* . * . *

Over an hour later I found myself walking back to the hut believing that Inuyasha was sitting there waiting for me with some roasted fish.

I can't go back. We may end up finishing what we started and I don't want to do something that we will regret later. The book chose that moment to slide down and stick to my skin, to let me know that it was still there to be read. I reached in and took it out, then found a rock near a lantern that hung out in the street.

I flipped my way to the broken leaf after I placed the pot down on even ground. Well my hanyou friend, what do you have to say? I asked myself as I started to read.

Miroku I do love you. I'm not sure what actions I have left to prove to you that I do. I've helped care for you while you were sick. I've fought side by side with you to keep you from being killed. I've even stood up for you against the girls under threat of bodily harm. You may think that it is funny now, but when you let us believe that you slept with that girl and may have been the father of her three month old child, by doing nothing to deny it, you hurt me, but I wasn't going to stand in the way of your happiness. And if being with her was what made you happy, I was going to help. I was truly happy to learn that you were just tying to help and protect a friend of yours who couldn't help the girl at the time.

My heart breaks each time I see or hear that you are with another woman. I always wished that I was the one you chose to hold, but knew that you wouldn't and I would hate you for a few hours thinking that you weren't worth the time it took my heart to ache over you. Then I see you later that day, all smiles, like there was nothing bad in the world and I would just say that you were just being you and looked forward to eating dinner across the fire from you again that night.

I have looked at you for eight months and each day I need to see you more and more. At night I dream of you. Yes, some are where we shout each other's name for the world to hear, but there are others where we just sit and watch the world go by. Ones where we share no more than a kiss and watch each other as light filters down through your hair. I want to see love in your eyes looking back at me. I will tell you that I love you in person to make you believe, so you can let yourself love me back.

You asked if I would let the world know that we are a couple. I have no problems with this. Demons see no shame or difference in love whether it's between two males, two females, or one of each. I may have grown up in the human world, but I didn't always live here. For a few months I lived at my father's home where I was a little more respected, but still hated. My time there wasn't long, but I saw a world that most humans didn't and I considered myself lucky in that small way. I can understand a little why my brother says he hates humans so much. They say that they have so much compassion and that demons are heartless beasts, while they kill their own more than we do and tell others who they should love within their own kind.

The only thing that I feel that I would have to defend is that you are human, but seeing that I'm not a full demon to begin with, I think the demon world wouldn't care that much about me touching a human in such a way. I would most likely have to fight your kind for the right to stay with you, but with you wanting to stay with me, I would fight any human who would dare challenge us.

That's my Inuyasha, always ready to fight. My Inuyasha? Does this mean that I believe him now? Do I drop the friend excuse and be with him the way he wants?

I look down at the pot and moved my hand forward to touch it. It was barely warm now. I closed the book and put it back where it came from. I grabbed the handle of pot and clutched my staff before I set off towards the hut again.

= NOTES =

Furiiku – Freak

Hentai – Pervert