Wee? The poem in this chapter belongs to me as I wrote it…and its very long…therefore this chapter is going to be long…this is part of the 2 I told you about in the beginning


Last time:

"Kagome," he whispered softly.

"Yes, Inuyasha," she whispered back.

"I think I'm going to kiss you now."

"Okay." Inuyasha and Kagome slowly closed the small gap between them and as their lips met Kagome felt the love that she thought she had buried deep within her send out a small leaf of new growth. "Inuyasha, I've missed you so," she said as she put her head on his chest.

"I've missed you too Kagome, so much."


Chapter 9: The Art of Poetry

One week later:

"Class, as you know this section of your creative writing class will have to do with poetry. I want each of you to write a poem for the most memorable part of your life or for a memory that you cherish. You will have to read it out loud, so nothing too personal. Please hand it in by the end of this week," the teacher stated at the end of class.

"Great, another assignment. I think Kouga is worried that I'm cheating on him," Kagome grumbled. Then she blushed as she remembered the other night. I guess he should be worried she thought.


The next week:

"Miss Higurashi, will you please read your poem out loud for the rest of the class," the teacher said. Kagome nodded and stood up in front of the classroom.

Embracing under the radiance
Of the moon, and streetlights.
The smog making weird glows
Time to go, because it is too cold.

I need to leave, in more ways than one,
But to shorten the embrace
Would make it harder than possible.
Wondering why and how this could happen.

The between the time that she first met Inuyasha and now Kagome could remember only one time when they had gotten into an argument, and even then it wasn't really a fight. It was more one-sided since she hadn't even processed the fact that he had broken up with her for the first few minutes.

Thinking about the world,
Discussing problems.
All done underneath the trees
And by stone walls.

There is no way for us to go on
Although we must try.
The coldness of the night
Penetrating my bones.

After the first midnight meeting in the park Kagome had snuck out every night to be with him. She couldn't help herself. Everything in her world seemed to remind her of him. It's true that they only dated for one year, but that year was the most perfect one in her memory.

As you give me your jacket
To keep me warm
I can't help but think back
Upon those wistful days.

I blush under your gaze
That lights on my face
And looking at me wonderingly
Your eyes asking questions I cannot answer.

She remembered the first night at the park fondly. She remembered how she had come home afterwards with the smell of him still on her shirt from wearing his jacket. She hadn't changed afterwards, just falling into bed and dreaming sweet dreams with his scent all around her. He had asked her then if she still loved him, but she couldn't answer him at the time.

Searching for the correct reply
I find a fork within myself.
Both roads to happiness
But different ways to obtain it.

Confused and sad, unknowing;
Uneducated in the ways of the world.
Lost and frightened, questioning myself
I cannot respond right, and I know it.

Even after looking deep inside herself for Inuyasha's answer she couldn't find one. She knew what she wanted, but she didn't know if it was the correct choice. Kagome was young enough to still think that there was a good and bad, right and wrong, for every choice there was, and she was naïve enough to think that she had the ability to answer.

I hand back your jacket and say goodnight
Underneath the pale moon and yellow light.
The few stars winking at me surprised;
Cars drive by wondering.

I do not hear them
Only the turmoil in my ears.
Coming from deep inside is the clamoring
For an answer when I have none to give.

She had walked home after giving him back his jacket confused and silently cursing herself. She knew that she loved Inuyasha, but she didn't know why, and she didn't know what to do about it. She was frightened of her feelings for him and of his obvious feelings for her.

Contemplating the consequences of my actions
And the reactions of others.
I foolishly think back
Forgetting the traps that have been set.

I spring one of them and fall inside.
Thinking I am secure, but too late realizing
That I am at the bottom of a pit
And cannot climb out.

The next day she had gone through school only thinking of what happened between them. She couldn't concentrate on anything, and Kouga seemed to notice something different about her. She had showered very carefully so that he wouldn't smell Inuyasha's scent on her, but her mind was still far away.

I am too far down to reach, and no hope.
There is no way for me to start anew
Or no way to get out.
I must go deeper to live.

I must dig myself into this hole.
The one I willingly jumped into
When I unwisely trod on hollow ground
And it gave way to my thought.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't realized that Kouga had been talking to her the entire hour of class. He looked at her strangely when she asked him what was wrong, but then shrugged his shoulders as he went to kiss her. She turned her head away and his kiss landed on her cheek.

Now I must live with my decision.
I must try to cope.
There is no way to understand,
And so I cannot tell.

Still wondering, still standing
At that fork in the road.
I can see it, but no one else can
Each way leading to hurt.

She thought long and hard about what would happen if she left Kouga for Inuyasha, and what would happen if she left Inuyasha for Kouga. She wasn't sure what was the best choice, and she wasn't sure why she was the one caught up in this. She knew that either decision would leave a hole in her heart.

There is no happiness for me.
It is all an illusion
Created by my mind
To make life different.

It is already harder than it should be.
Life doesn't rewind
Although we wish it could
Underneath the lamplight and smog.

Kagome knew that the time she had spent with Inuyasha was the happiest she had ever had, but she also knew that he had hurt her, deeply, and she wasn't sure that her heart could take it if he decided to rip out the stitches holding it together.

I was told things I must not think about
But still they reside within me.
My ears hearing but my mind
Not comprehending those syllables.

The ones that used to mean so much
But now, confuse me even more.
Like a child, I cling to what I have
Not knowing, or caring, if it is true.

Kagome had no one to talk to about her problems, all her friends and family thought that she was better without Inuyasha and that, while Kouga wasn't the best for her, he was definitely better than Inuyasha. She was confused by Inuyasha's confession of love, but even more confused by her response to him.

I thought crying was done with
And running as well, but now is it?
All of a sudden they well up again;
The old urges to run and hide.

I want to cry myself to sleep,
I want to run away
And be found hundreds of years later.
It's all too much for my mind to swallow.

She felt like running away from all of her problems, and would have, except that she knew running would not help her. She had hidden inside herself when he had broken up with her, and it didn't make the hurting any worse. Her mind was in a whirl from all of this new information and she didn't know what to do with it.

You call my name softly
Wondering what is wrong.
I smile and say nothing
Only to be lost in your eyes again.

Wondering why I gave it up,
And why it's not my fault.
I took me so long to understand,
And now it is too late.

A few nights after their initial secret meeting Inuyasha had asked Kagome why she cried on his shoulder. She had just shaken her head and kissed him lightly. He didn't pretend to understand her, but held her close to him, smelling the scent he missed so much.

I say I must go, but you tell me no
To stay longer, each time, it's longer.
I try to pull away, but cannot
There is no slack within that gaze.

It holds me tight and I give way;
I don't want to leave but I must.
Finally I crawl into bed;
My eyes are wet and brimming.

Every night that Kagome had crept out to see Inuyasha she went back to her bed late and cried herself to sleep. Everyone wondered about the tension Kagome was under and her taught nerves, but no one understood, no one but Inuyasha.

I cannot let go, although I have to.
I cannot turn away.
My mind is torn in two
And helplessly floundering.

Still standing by that fork;
Not knowing, contemplating
Trying to make sense of it all,
And failing at each turn.

Kagome thought she loved Kouga, but she also loved Inuyasha. She didn't know which one would be better for her in the long run, and also didn't know which one she loved more. They were both so different that she couldn't compare them; it would be like comparing apples and oranges. Yes, they were both round-ish, but that was about the only thing they had in common.

I am lost and confused,
And I don't know what to do.
Either way someone gets hurt
And I do not want that on my head.

I must choose,
But how can I make this decision
Between two different lives,
And two different ways?

Kagome knew that eventually she would have to choose. Either Inuyasha would get tired of being the 'other guy' or Kouga would find out. She wasn't sure which one she wanted most, but she did know that she couldn't stop seeing Inuyasha.

They are both well traveled,
And they both hold promises
Some broken and trodden on
But not by me, I try to keep them.

I hold them to my heart and cry,
Not knowing, not caring
Whose they are and what they do.
I sit down and pull them into my lap.

Crying and sobbing all the while
I gather them up, broken and whole,
And hold them close to me as I sit,
And try to figure a way out of this labyrinth.

She looked forward every day to their meetings, even if all they did was talk. She knew she could do or say anything with him and not have to worry about his reacting. Yes, he would smirk or make his remarks, invariably calling her wench or woman, but she could she that he didn't care if she was talking about murder or just plain old day-to-day stuff, he would listen.

Kagome finished her reading and looked straight into Inuyasha's eyes. They were wide open and he looked shocked. She just blushed, bowed to the class, and returned to her seat.

"Kagome, I think that's the best thing I've ever heard you write," Sango whispered into Kagome's ear.

"Class, since Miss Higurashi's poem was longer than anticipated," Kagome blushed at this, "we'll continue on Monday, please turn in your papers so that I can at least grade the written portion," the teacher said.


Later that night:

"So, was that poem about me?" Inuyasha asked, his arm around her waist.

"Well, kinda. And you know it had something to do with you anyway," she said as she playfully punched him on the arm. Inuyasha looked at her with mock anger.

"Wench, you know I hate writing."

"Yes, but who else would I be meeting at night under the moon and street lights?" she asked, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Keh," he responded, lifting her chin with a finger and placing a kiss on her forehead, nose, and then, finally, her lips. "Can't you just forget that mangy wolf and come back to me?"

"Inuyasha, you know it's not that easy for me. But I promise, I'll think about it," she said as she got up. "It's time for me to get home. Walk with me?" she asked.

"Of course, wench. Silly woman, you think I'd let you walk along. I always followed you." Kagome blushed and started to walk. Inuyasha hurried to catch up with her and then put his arm back around her waist.

I love you so much Inuyasha, but…what happens if you decide to break up with me again? I don't think I could handle that. What would I do if…Shut it Kagome, just enjoy the moment she thought to herself as she leaned into him. "I love you, Inuyasha," she barely whispered, but Inuyasha's sensitive ears heard her, and he smiled.


okay…so…whatcha think? And I guess its not as long as I thought it would be….any questions? Comments? Anything at all? Heh….