Chapter 7… Not worthy/Hide N Seek (couldn't decide what to name this chapter)
Inuyasha sat in the corner of Kaede's hut and to the untrained eye he look to be asleep. Kagome knew better. For one, anytime she moved from her spot next to him, his ears turned to follow her movement. He had declined food, which was troubling to say the least, and wouldn't answer any questions posed to him.
Mateo was sitting in the opposite corner, calmly surveying the half demon through sharp blue eyes. He was courteous and polite, declining the food offered to him with a smile claiming to have eaten already. That concerned a few of them, but they wisely overlooked it.
Sango and Miroku were beside the fire, eating and talking quietly. Kagome was interested to see that they seemed 'friendlier' than the last time she saw the two of them. Shippo was oblivious to the tension and was coloring on the floor. Kaede had left, a birth was to happen soon in the village and she went to offer her assistance.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked quietly. He didn't answer, but his ears twitched so that she knew he was listening. "Lets go outside." She said, standing. This comment caused him to pick his head up and look at her. She grabbed a hand and pulled him to his feet. He followed her silently out of the hut and towards the forest.
When she felt there was enough distance between them and the hut she stopped and turned to face the impassive half demon. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. His arms automatically came up and around her and he dropped his head to rest on hers. Breathing deeply he seemed to be fighting some internal battle.
"Talk to me." Kagome said, slightly muffled through his shirt.
"It's nothing." He claimed, very unconvincingly.
She pulled back enough to look him in the face. "Really?" she said, skepticism dripping from her voice. "Just tell me what's on your mind."
He looked over her head. "Its just…strange." Kagome arched an eyebrow when he didn't elaborate. He sighed. "I have always known that I wouldn't be accepted because I am a half breed, always inferior, always the embarrassment to the family tree. Now they want me to fulfill some responsibility? Because defeating Naroku makes me worthy? That is not why I killed the son of a bitch. I stopped trying to be worthy a long time ago." He said softly. "He wants something, I just don't know if its something I can give…"
Kagome returned to resting her cheek on his chest. "You do not owe him anything. We can go back to the hut and tell that demon where he can shove it." She smiled at the chuckle that vibrated through his chest.
Then the chuckle was replaced by a huge sigh. "No, I can't run away from this. I will go, but I won't guarantee that I will do anything once I get there."
"Can you wait a week?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"Well, I have exams in a week, then I have a month before the new school year starts."
Inuyasha hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head. "Of course, love."
She untangled herself from his and grabbed his hand. "Come on, I bet you're hungry." He laughed and followed her back towards the hut.
The next days flew past in a blur of studying for Kagome. Inuyasha was busy trying to hide from Mateo, not exactly comfortable at having a 'vassal.' Mateo seemed to grasp this and instead of leaving the poor half demon alone, he tailed him everywhere. Kagome was convinced he was doing this on purpose and could even swear that he was having fun. Giving a head start to Inuyasha, he would then track him down. It was almost as if they were playing hide and seek. By the third day, Inuyasha was treating it more like a game and his hiding places were getting interesting.
Shippo soon insisted to be included. They all stared in shock, as Mateo agreed quickly and told the little kitsune it was his turn to look for them. Kagome was just glad it got them all out of her hair so she could actually get some studying done.
One night, Sango and Kagome decided to head down to the hot spring and relax.
"Ahhh. That feels good." Kagome said as she settled down in the water.
"Mmmm." Sango agreed. She opened her eyes and looked through the steam at Kagome. "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"
Kagome smiled. "Of course, Sango, anything."
"Miroku proposed." She blushed and Kagome squealed.
"Awww, how sweet! So?" she asked expectantly.
"What?"
"Urg…Details, I want details!"
"Um well, we talked the other day, about our feelings and such." She bit her lip, "And then today, when we went to gather water he just asked me." She said with an air of incredibility.
"And, you said…?"
Sango was blushing brightly by now, a small smile playing across her lips. "I said yes."
Another squeal came from Kagome. Sango's expression hardened and she asked, "But do you think he will be faithful? That he really loves me?"
"Oh, Sango. I know he loves you. And I think part of all the flirting was well," she gave her friend a sideways look. "He was trying to make you jealous."
A shocked expression flit across her face before it was replaced by disbelief. "No, that can't be it, because I was never jealous."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Sango, you are so deep in D'nile that you could catch a fish!." She muttered.
"What?"
Kagome just shook her head. "Ne'ermind." She yawned and the two enjoyed the hot water while they could.
AN: hmmm… wonder what Sessy wants? Whoever said he was nice? He obviously wants something….Mateo is going to be fun to write, he's being borrowed from one of my other fics, though he's a bit different… and a wedding!
voice in head you know nothing about Japanese weddings…
me-Keh, I guess I gotta do some research!
Anyways, reviews make me happy, 'specially since I am spoiling all of you with daily updates…in a week though I wont be near a computer for two weeks…poor me, oh well enjoy the daily updates while they last…
