Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Superlatives
The stars began twinkling merrily. Inuyasha merely huddled under the desk. He could almost fit...almost.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome walked into the room and turned on the light.
"There you are...what are you doing under the table? Come out."
"No!"
"Inuyasha?"
"I'm not. I won't."
"What's wrong?"
All she could see was a ball of red – not even his toes were visible. She knelt and tried to look under the table.
"Don't look!" He sounded terrified.
"Inuyasha, come on." She was worried about him, but she knew the best way to approach was with patience. "Come now, I'm your friend, remember? You can tell me."
Silence.
"Please?"
Slowly, he uncrossed his arm and pulled at a strand of hair, showing it to Kagome.
It was black.
"Yes...you have lovely hair. Is there something wrong?"
"It's black!"
"Well of course it is, silly boy. It's your human night tonight."
"You know about that?"
"Yes...you showed me when we were travelling together."
"And you're not angry?"
"Why would I be angry?"
"Coz I'm even more weak and pathetic. Sesshomaru-nii-sama refused to see me on nights like this. Said it made him nauseous to look at me. Say what does 'nauseous' mean? Anyways, I was kinda glad, coz at least for one night I wouldn't be disciplined." He looked at her sheepishly.
"I feel pain easier on moonless nights...and Sesshomaru-nii-sama can get carried away sometimes."
She pulled lightly on him, bringing him into her arms.
"You didn't deserve that, Inuyasha. Sesshomaru...just...I'm sure he means well, but he doesn't know how to take care of you."
"You really think that? Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'd gladly take a hundred sticks if that would mean that I'm not alone on this night."
"You really hate it that much...? But I'm human too..."
He turned to her, eyes widened in horror.
"Forgive me! I did not mean it like that! It's just...I can't hear you, or smell properly... so all the things I know: your heartbeat, the sound of you biting your lip when you're nervous, and your scent...even your form sometimes completely disappears if you're not next to me. And it's scary. It's like drowning."
"Oh, Inuyasha. There is nothing to forgive. I'm just trying to understand."
He nodded.
"It's not so bad now...I have you. When I was drowning, I had no-one, and the water kept pulling at me, and I couldn't breathe...it was scareful. Really scareful."
"When did this happen?"
"Errr...when the villagers threw me in the river...but...but don't cry Kagome, please...Sesshomaru-nii-sama saved me...but it's just that I remember the moments before that...and please don't cry anymore, Kagome. Please? It hurts right here when you do." He placed a hand on his heart. "I don't know why, but it does..."
"It's alright..." She wiped her tears and kissed the spot on his chest where his hand still laid. "There. All better."
He looked away.
"You know...you smell pretty."
"Thank you."
"But you also smell like me...Why?"
"We travel together...a lot."
"Is that all?"
She blushed. What exactly did he want her to say?
"Say...Kagome...do you have a beau?"
"Pardon?"
"A beau...a sweetheart?"
She shook her head and he sighed.
"I wish I was older so's I could be your beau coz you're real kind, 'n you don't smell weird like other humans, 'n you're pretty too. Real pretty. My momma was the most beautifulest woman in the world." He declared staunchly. "But...Kagome is also very pretty. Almost as beautiful as my momma...but momma's still the most beautifulest." He spoke in an apologetic voice meant to tell her that this was the rule, but he was willing to make exceptions for her. She chuckled.
"Thank you, Inuyasha."
"I want to remember, Kagome. I really want to remember. You told me so much...and it sounds like a real nice story, but I don't..."
"You will...all in good time."
"Kagome...can I stay with you f'rever'n' ever?"
"You can stay with me as long as you want."
Author's Notes: Here we are! I wanted to thank you all for the overwhelming responses to the last chapter, and this seemed like the best way! ;) I loved dearly hearing from all of you and I treasure each one of your compliments. Thank you for all the smiles. :) Before anyone brings it up, I know that 'beau' is a French word and thus, that Inuyasha would have no way of knowing it, but I chose to use it because it lends a feeling of the era Inuyasha is from. If you think of my story as using dialogue that is essentially Japanese translated into English then the use of the word 'beau' will not be historically incorrect, instead, it will be the relevant and most impacting form of whichever word Inuyasha would use in Japanese. I hope this makes sense, and, if not, feel free to PM me with questions or comments, etc.
Merry Christmas to all of you! (I refuse to believe people can be insulted by this statement. If you are not Christian, then a Happy Holiday season to you!!! Just enjoy it :D) Lots of love to all of you.
Azaleea
