Betrothal
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Kagome had been surprised by how normal their lives became once her and Inuyasha returned to their friends and their journey. Aside from a few stilted conversations, it was like nothing had changed since her and Inuyasha's mating.
And she couldn't quite figure out if it bothered her or not.
Deciding it was better than particular alternatives, she put up with it.
It was one warm spring night that, as they set out to make camp, Kagome decided to pull out her journal, an old leather one which had seen better days. By the firelight, she pulled out a pen and then promptly went to work writing her thoughts.
"Oi, wench, I thought you were done with all that book stuff?" His shadow blocked the light, so Kagome raised her head to squint at the hanyou towering over her.
"It's not school stuff, it's a journal. To write your own thoughts and experiences in and stuff." Kagome said with a patient smile.
Inuyasha gave a mental sigh of relief; never having liked that 'school' Kagome went to. The girls wore too short of skirts (not that he really complained about Kagome wearing it, so long as the monk stayed in line), that Hobo boy was always around (was that even his name?), and the teachers and work and 'grades' Kagome was always going on about just made her more stressed and moody.
On the other hand, a journal for Kagome's thoughts and experiences sounded a bit unnerving as well. Plopping next to her, Inuyasha peered over her shoulder, glancing at the page, even more unnerved when he saw his name more than once down the page.
"You write about me?" He asked surprised.
"Of course." Kagome said, shielding the page from view. "I've been keeping this journal since just a little before Sesshomaru gave you the letter. And we've certainly had quite a trip since then."
Inuyasha fidgeted at the subtle reminder that Kagome wasn't going to forget their arrangement anytime soon.
"I don't write just about you though. There are other things I write about." She continued, gazing up at the fire.
"Do you write about all of us?" Shippou asked excitedly, jumping onto Kagome's shoulder, attempting to sneak a peek at her words.
Kagome smiled gently, reaching up a hand to fluff the kit's hair.
"Yes Shippou, all of you."
"I would be very interested to know what Lady Kagome writes about me." The monk said with a waggling eyebrow as he sat to her left.
"Piss off." Inuyasha growled lowly but Miroku either didn't hear or paid no mind. Kagome would put her money on the latter.
"Why do you keep a journal, Kagome?" Sango asked, Kirara following her as the woman sat next to the monk.
"Well, a long time ago, Mama wanted me to write about the feudal era and stuff so she could read what I do on this side of the well. But I never had time to keep up with it and eventually lost the journal." Kagome slid the book shut. "I found it back in my time, stuffed into a torn sleeping bag and brought it back with me. With all that has been going on, it helped me to clear my thoughts to be able to write them out and think logically about them."
Sango gave an understanding nod. "I knew my father to keep scrolls of scrap parchment he would write himself notes on." Kagome nodded in turn, a small smile lifting her lips.
"But it simply brings me back to the questions about what Lady Kagome writes about us all." Miroku said with a grin once more.
"Yeah Kagome! I wanna know too!" Shippou squeaked happily as he ran from Kagome's shoulder to her lap.
Kagome shuffled around, noticing that everyone in the group was staring at her, waiting in anticipation.
"O-okay." She said, nervous. She shuffled through some pages, still keeping them shadowed from wandering eyes.
"Shippou, I write a lot about your accomplishments and achievements with your tricks. How you're such a brave little fox demon who's going to grow up strong one day." Kagome smiled down at the kit in her lap who beamed back up at her.
"Miroku…" Kagome turned a few pages back. "I wonder how you must often feel with your future and hardships Naraku has placed you under." Miroku stretched his hand, the knuckles taught in the firelight. "And then marvel at how well you carry yourself, and how easily you laugh." Miroku's lips lifted briefly.
"Of course, if you don't grow up and realize something obvious for yourself, and settle down soon, I'll pummel you."
While Kagome's very pointed statement left everyone silent and with no doubt of what she meant, no one dared eye the woman they all knew the monk would prefer to 'settle down' with.
"As for Sango…" Kagome chirped onwards, undisturbed. "You're one of the bravest and strongest people I've met. Just know that it is okay to smile and lighten up, and well, have fun. You're also lucky to have one of the most loyal companions I have ever seen."
Sango smiled down at Kirara whom was pawing at a dried piece of beef.
Kagome then closed the journal with a small snap.
"Those were kind words Kagome." Sango said with a grateful smile.
"It's nothing. And that's just a small summary of what I really think. There's so much to all of my friends here." Kagome beamed at her friends.
"But Kagome- You didn't say anything about Inuyasha." Shippou spoke quietly from her lap, peering at the dog demon next to him.
Kagome glanced over at him as well, seeing his eyes peering at her, one eyebrow raised.
"Feh, not like it matters." He said, turning back to the group. He gathered himself up, brushing off the dirt before walking off to find a tree to settle in.
"You don't think he was offended by you not saying anything about him do you?" Sango whispered, leaning in close for only Miroku, Kagome, and Shippou to hear.
Kagome shrugged. "He knows he's in there. I just thought it would embarrass him to have everyone else hear it as well."
"You write embarrassing things about him?" Miroku said with a smirk and a wink. Sango promptly pushed him over, scooting over into his place.
"Maybe you should just let him read it in private then. To explain." Sango offered.
Kagome gave a nod, grabbing the journal as she stood up.
"I'll be back in a few." Kagome said, leaning over to grab her arrows and bow before trotting into the trees.
"Inuyasha?" She called out softly, listening intently.
"Whadya want, wench?" She heard a mumbled voice call out. Squinting, Kagome glanced for the pale hair in what moonlight was peering through the trees.
"Can I talk to you?" She asked.
"You're doing that now, aren't ya?" He replied, sounding tired.
"Well, I'd prefer to be doing it face to face." Kagome replied, petulant.
She heard a sigh and then a 'thump!' to her right. Whirling, she caught the sight of silver and red.
"Better!" She chirped.
Inuyasha sighed, leaning against a tree, crossing his arms.
"What is it, Kagome?"
She offered her bundle forward. Inuyasha took it in his hands, inspecting the cover of the journal with a raised brow.
"I didn't want you to feel left out; I have written about you, but it just might be embarrassing in the other's company." She pushed his hands closer to his chest, feeling his fingers tighten on the book. "Anyways, I just wanted to say you could read it for yourself if you want. I don't have any secrets in there. Not from you, anyways."
She started to turn around to head back to camp, but a hand on her elbow kept her from taking a step. She turned again, seeing Inuyasha reaching forward.
"You don't have to go." He said simply.
They stared at each other for a moment, before Kagome gave a smile and nodded. Truth was, she was exhausted, but she couldn't deny the man before her anything.
Inuyasha found a patch of moonlight and sat at the base of a tree. Kagome sat next to him, closing her eyes to rest as she heard the sounds of pages being shuffled through, and the creak of leather.
Kagome cracked her eyes open as Inuyasha grew quiet, the only unnatural sound in the night being the pages turning slowly. She amused herself by watching his expression as he read her thoughts across the pages.
Occasionally his fingers rose and traced a spot on the page, gently, so as to not knick the paper with his nails. Kagome furrowed her brow as she watched this action happen more than once while he read.
"What are you doing?" She asked when his hand began rising to repeat the action.
Inuyasha glanced up at her before looking down at his hand. Sheepishly he flexed his hand and lowered it.
"You write my name a lot." He whispered.
"Obviously." Kagome stated. "You're kind of a big thing in my life, if you haven't noticed."
If Kagome's blunt words were a surprise, or embarrassing, Inuyasha didn't show it. He simply raised his hand and traced his name once more.
"I like the way you write my name." He said simply. "Your handwriting."
Kagome nearly snorted.
"My handwriting?" she asked incredulous.
Inuyasha scowled at her laughter.
"People don't have a need to write all the time in this era. You've gone to school. You have nice handwriting." He said by explanation.
Kagome still smiled as she rolled her head against the back of the tree, closing her eyes again.
"It's just one of the last things I would expect you to compliment." She stated.
Inuyasha didn't respond and the two fell in silence once more, the sound of pages turning greeting their ears.
Kagome awoke, groggy with sleep and confused. Something wasn't right about how she was tucked into her sleeping bag. It took moments for her to pinpoint why, before she remembered she had fallen asleep next to Inuyasha in the forest.
Rolling over, Kagome felt her hand smack something hard. She groaned and leaned her head up to see her journal sitting next to her head.
'He must have finished reading it last night and brought me back…'Kagome thought slowly, registering what had happened.
Groaning, she sat up, picking up the journal and turning to the last thing she wrote.
"And suddenly everything is normal again. It's almost disconcerting how we've come back to equilibrium after all the chaos of the past few months. My stomach feels as if it's a spring, waiting for the next hurdle to arise.
But I don't mind. I chose this life for myself; I offered what I had to help Inuyasha. I know he blames himself, but it was never his fault. One day we'll have to face that we are family from here on out, but for now, I don't mind being just friends. Best friends."
But that wasn't what made her heart suddenly pick up speed, what suddenly made her cheeks flush just a bit.
Two lines past her last words, a shaky hand had added their own words to her journal.
"Best friends.
Always."
Well, Inuyasha had always been a man of few words. But Kagome smiled all the same.
And later, as they packed up camp and began trekking forward, when Inuyasha asked 'Why're you so damn smiley wench?' Kagome simply shook her head and smiled once more.
Author's Note: A little sweet scene for all you readers. Thank you for the reviews and the critiques. They've been most helpful!
I know this chapter is shorter, but I didn't feel like much more needed to be said for the feeling.
Review!