Chapter 6: Back To Reality
Kagome stilled within his hands and looked up at him with her tear streaked face. "Wh-what did you just say?"
Slowly, InuYasha placed on of his hands on her cheek. "I said I love you, Kagome. I have from the day we met. From the moment you shoved me into that tree I've been yours. I would do anything to see you smile and laugh." He paused and placed his other hand on her cheek, framing her face in his grasp. "And anything to protect you. Even if that means going against your wishes..."
Kagome stood in stunned silence just looking at him. Her entire world had just come crashing down on her head. First, the whole incident with Hojo. Then InuYasha's botched attempt to help her actually puts her in more danger. Then he betrayed her by telling her mother and now he wants to bare his fucking soul like everything was fucking peachy? She backed away from his touch and started shaking her head.
"No. No, InuYasha, You don't get to do that. You don't get to act like what you did was ok because you think you have some fucking crush on me or some shit."
Anger flashed across InuYasha's face. Faster than her eyes could track, he was in front of her again, grasping her shoulders. "Were you not listening to me, Kagome? The bond only works if both people are in love." He watched her eyes and waited for what he said to sink in. He felt when the realization hit her.
Kagome's eyes widened as the implications of what he said hit her. She had to be in love with him for the bond to have worked. Her brain worked in overdrive, conjuring up happy memories of her and InuYasha throughout the years. Images of their closeness flashed in her mind's eye so quickly she barely had time to register each memory before she was seeing the next. It all led to one thing, he was right. She was in love with him. She supposed she had always known and just suppressed it, afraid to admit it, even to herself.
Slowly, she moved her eyes up to look into his. The absolute longing she saw there both excited and shocked her. How had she never noticed it before? Her gaze lowered to his full, pink lips. His tongue flicked out briefly to wet them, making them glisten slightly. She found herself wondering what it would feel like to have those lips upon her own again.
InuYasha saw her eyes travel to his lips. Nervously, he flicked his tongue over them. Having her within his grasp was making their bond stronger. He knew exactly what she was feeling. What she wanted. That's when it hit him. Her smell, ten times stronger and more sweet than ever before. His grip on her shoulders tightened. The small gasp she let out only served to make him sigh out, "Kagome..." his voice husky and low.
In answer to his silent question, she took the final step towards him, pressing herself into him. InuYasha's entire body shook with the effort it was taking him not to do just as his brother had told him to do and claim her. She was so warm against him. Knowing full well it was a mistake, he looked down into her eyes. When they reflected the same desires he was feeling, his resolve melted. Without thinking about it, he tangled his left hand in her hair while his right went to the small of her back, pulling her even closer.
She watched him lower his head to hers. He searched her eyes one last time for any hint that he should stop, but found none. The centimeters closed between them and their lips touched. The kiss was chaste at first, both of them being nervous. But as the fears started to melt away, the pair opened up to eachother. He felt her arms come around him and grasp his shoulders as he allowed his tongue to enter her.
He moaned into her mouth. She tasted even sweeter than he had expected. The feel of her body pressed so tightly against him felt better than even his best fantasies had conjured. He both smelled and felt how much she wanted this, enjoyed this, how much her body was responding to him. Emboldened by this, he trailed his fingers up the back of her shirt, craving the feel of her skin.
The feel of his fingers along her skin sent shivers trailing up and down her spine. No one had ever made her body respond this much simply with a kiss. A pleasured sigh escaped her lips as she ground herself against him, reflexively. When she felt his very obvious sign of arousal, however, her body froze. The memory of feeling Hojo's arousal pressed against her, ready to take her, made her blood run cold. She scrambled away from the boy holding her so fast, she tripped over her own feet and nearly tumbled to the ground.
InuYasha felt her pull away mentally a split second before her body did. He felt like he was watching in slow motion as she tried to get away from his and started to fall. He caught her by her arms and set her back on her feet with ease. Feeling her flinch at his touch, he released her, though it pained him greatly to do so. His eyes followed her hands as they came up to hold herself. He turned away from her and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Big mistake. He only breathed in more of her scent. Shakily, he said, "I-I'm sorry, Kagome. I never should've done that." He started toward his bedroom door as he continued, "I'll be downstairs when you're ready for me to take you home."
Just as he was reaching for the doorknob she called out to him softly, "InuYasha..." He froze. "Can I... would it be ok if I stayed here again?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "I-I can't face my mom now that she knows. Not yet, anyway." When he didn't answer right away she continued quickly, "And, I really don't want to have another one of those nightmares and it seems like you're the only thing that can keep them at bay."
Slowly, he turned to face her. His face was unreadable, but she knew he was feeling scared yet hopeful at her words. "Are you sure, Kagome?"
She nodded. When he came and simply embraced her, she felt more contentment than than she had felt in days. It would be short lived, however, for school awaited her the next morning.
Kagome looked down at the oversized tshirt and sweats she had borrowed from InuYasha that morning. She'd had to tie off the waistband of the sweats, but it was worth it to her to not have to face her mother just yet. InuYasha had reluctantly agreed to not make her go home that morning as long as she promised to talk to her mother after school. Sighing, Kagome wished there was some way around her promise but she knew there was not. She was just closing the door to her locker when a voice from behind her made her entire body freeze.
"Hey there, Kagome."
Slowly, she turned to face the owner of the voice, clutching her books to her chest. "Ho-Hojo," she choked out. The final bell chose this moment to ring, clearing the hallway within a matter of seconds. "We-we should get to class..." she said as she tried to walk past him.
Hojo's arm came out and blocked her path. "What's the hurry, Kagome?" His face leaned in next to hers. She turned away from him and clenched her eyes shut.
"Please Hojo. I'll scream," she warned, voice wavering.
"Oh, I hope you do." He sneered against her ear as he forced her back against the lockers with his body.
InuYasha had just sat down in his homeroom when he felt it. Kagome. She was terrified. Jumping up from his seat, he ran out of the classroom just as the final bell rang. He found himself fighting against the current of students as he forced his way through them, desperate to reach Kagome.
Finally, the hallways cleared and he could run the halls at full speed. It still took him far too long to reach her in his mind. What he saw when he got there made his blood boil. Hojo had her trapped against her locker. He was pulling her face to meet his own. Shaking with fury, InuYasha grabbed him by the back of his shirt and threw him into the lockers across the hall, making a loud crash. Hojo crumpled into a heap on the floor, seemingly unconscious.
Turning his attention to the terrified girl, InuYasha gently touched her face with his hand. "Kagome?" he had just managed to whisper when a teacher from a nearby classroom peered out. Taking in the sight of Hojo unconscious on the ground and InuYasha comforting Kagome, the teacher asked, "What is the world is going on out here?"
Kagome's eyes flew open. Briefly, they met InuYasha's and she tried to project her appreciation of his saving her, again. He nodded his understanding once and she turned her attention to the teacher. InuYasha turned and faced the teacher. Pointing at Hojo, he began explaining, "He was harassing her. I made him stop."
Narrowing her eyes at InuYasha, the teacher looked past him to Kagome. "Is this true?" Unable to speak yet, Kagome simply nodded once. Taking a few steps in the direction of the protective hanyou, the teacher wagged a finger at him, "Young man, you know that violence on school grounds in unacceptable."
Growling deeply, InuYasha replied, "So, I was just supposed to let that piece of shit force himself on her right here in the hallway then? Would that be acceptable?" The last word came out as mocking.
Swallowing hard, the teacher responded, "He... he was trying to..."
"Yes." InuYasha stated simply.
"Oh, my. This is quite serious." She turned back toward Hojo, still on the floor. Stepping back into her classroom for just a moment, a couple of students came out to help Hojo to the nurse's office. When she reappeared, she motioned for them to follow her. "Come with me, you two."
Kagome reached out and grasped InuYasha's hand tightly in her own. As soon as their skin made contact, she felt massively better. Calming energy flooded her system, overloading all other senses. She released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and looked over at the source of her strength. InuYasha squeezed her hand reassuringly as they followed the teacher to the principal's office.
An hour later found quite a scene inside the principal's office. Kagome was seated on the couch next to InuYasha, refusing to let go of his hand. It was the only thing keeping her relatively sane in that particular moment. Her mother and Hojo's father sat across from the principal in front of them. Hojo had been brought in after he had awoken in the nurse's office. Apparently, the toss InuYasha had given him had caused a broken collarbone and a concussion. InuYasha and Kagome had stayed silent unless directly asked a question. Parents had been called in after the accusations of assault had been made.
Currently, Hojo's father was screaming at principal Takahashi. "I want that, that thing expelled! It injured my son!" He pointed to his son, playing the part of broken child perfectly.
Ms. Higurashi was not going to stand for this. "Mr. Hojo, that thing you're referring to is a person just like you or I." She paused to look back at InuYasha and smile. "His name is InuYasha and he's protected my daughter from your son, twice. So, if anyone here is to be expelled, I expect it should be your son, not InuYasha."
Red faced, the older Hojo turned to face Ms. Higurashi. "What exactly are you implying, madam?"
"Oh, was I not clear? Well, let me be crystal clear for you this time." Her voice was lowering to a level the likes of which InuYasha had never heard from the woman. It reminded him of when Kagome was extremely angry and it deeply frightened him. "Your son attempted to force himself upon my daughter twice in the last 72 hours. InuYasha was there both times to stop him. Is that clear enough for you?"
Principal Takahashi chose this moment to put up both of her hands and stop the bickering parents. "Alright, please." She turned to face Ms. Higurashi. "The authorities have been contacted regarding the accusations your daughter has made against young Mr. Hojo, here." She turned to face Mr. Hojo. "As for your son. Depending on what the authorities find will determine his fate here. If it is determined that he really did attack Miss Higurashi then he will be expelled. For now, he is suspended pending the results of the investigation." Her eyes fell onto the young couple on the couch. "As for you two. InuYasha, you are also suspended pending the results of the investigation. If it is found that Hojo is innocent, you will be expelled. Miss Higurashi, you will need to stay and answer some questions but after that you will be free to return to class. Everyone understand?"
Upon hearing that InuYasha was suspended, Kagome turned her frightened eyes to him. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, but stayed silent. Now was not the time to tell her that he would be there to protect her regardless of being suspended or not. A knock sounded at the door before either parent could say anything. The secretary poked her head in and said, "The police are here, ma'am."
"Thank you, Akane. Please send them in." Pricipal Takahashi responded.
Minutes later, Kagome was being forced to release InuYasha's hand to follow the investigators to another room. Her head was foggy. Her feet were moving but she wasn't sure how. Her hands clutched her arms. She was so cold.
The next hour passed slowly as she was questioned about the events of the party as well as that morning. She could hear herself speaking but she honestly didn't know what she was saying. Every question they asked forced her further into herself to the point that her conscious mind wasn't even aware of what they were asking her until finally she heard InuYasha's voice.
"...fucking God if you don't let me in there to see her..."
"Sir, she's being questioned..."
"Does it look like I give a fuck? Open. The. Door. Now."
One of the men inside with her opened the door, revealing InuYasha. Their eyes locked and the relief she saw in his made her smile slightly. He brushed past both men with ease to kneel in front of her. He took both of her hands in his own. The moment he touched her, her brain began to clear. Her thoughts started to form cohesion. She felt herself relax a little.
"Kagome?" he probed gently as he stroked her cheek with one hand.
Her eyes slowly met his. "Take me home, InuYasha. Please?" she managed to whisper.
Without a moment's hesitation, InuYasha stood and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, protectively. Glaring at the men, daring them to try to stop him, he led her past them towards the hallway. He didn't slow down until they were near his bike. Even the brief moment he had to let go of her in order to climb upon the bike made Kagome shiver at his absence. She snuggled in behind him and wrapped her arms around him. Just before InuYasha started up his bike, Kagome heard a familiar voice from behind them.
"You might want to actually grow a set and fuck the girl, mutt. If I was a lesser demon, the smell she's giving off would have already made me take the bitch..."
