Six
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all of the Inu characters, not me.
A/N: Sorry about the wait, I had midterms, but this week was spring break, and I got all caught up on homework and stuff, so I got some writing done. Thanks for waiting, hope you enjoy!
Inu-Yasha sat silently, a mix of awe and shock warring in him. The miko still sat before him, just as silent. She had told him everything, just as he had asked. From finding the poisoned hole in his shoulder, all the way to when he had become a youkai and attacked her.
He lifted his hands to the knots holding his haori together and quickly loosened them. He saw Kagome turn her attention to his movements as he opened both of his shirts to bare his chest. Golden orbs searched the left side of his chest. He sucked in a sharp breath as his gaze fell on a small white X marking the miko's cuts.
"I'm—I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha," Kagome whispered as he lifted clawed fingers to touch the mark. The hanyou turned to look at her.
"Why are you sorry? If it wasn't for you, the poison might've done a lot of damage," he answered her apology. He moved his hand from his chest to the miko's cheek. "I should be thanking you," he added quietly, brushing her skin softly. "Don't cry any more. I hate when you cry," he went on. Sniffling, Kagome nodded, trying to stop her tears. "Everything's alright now, Kagome," the hanyou assured her once more. She nodded again.
"Are you still hungry?" the miko asked, trying to smile. Giving her a grin, Inu-Yasha held up the full bottle of water he had dropped earlier.
"I didn't get this for nothing," he replied. Kagome couldn't help laughing at his words. When she reached for the box of matches, a clawed hand stopped her. She lifted her gaze to meet Inu-Yasha's again. "I've got it," he answered her unasked question. Kagome slowly pulled back.
"Thanks," she muttered. Inu-Yasha nodded in response, going to work making a fire.
((Without You))
The curtain fluttered closed after Miroku as he stepped back into Kaede's hut. It was growing late again, and there was still no sign of Inu-Yasha and Kagome. He hoped that they were just enjoying their time together.
The houshi's eyes fell on Sango sitting next to the cooking fire. She was stirring something in a pot over the flames. He smiled as he moved to her side. She paused to look at him with question.
"Any sign of Kagome and Inu-Yasha?" she asked as he sat at her side.
The houshi shook his head. "Not that I could see," he replied.
"Hm," Sango muttered, stirring the stew once more before filling a bowl and handing it to the man. "Eat up," she said with a smile.
"Thanks," Miroku said as she stood up. She nodded, still smiling lightly as she moved to the door of the hut. He heard her call Kaede, Shippo, and Kirara. Miroku smiled and turned his attention to the hot bowl of stew in his hands. It smelled very good.
By the time all of the others had sat down with their own meals, the houshi was almost done. He darted his eyes to Sango as she again came to sit at his side. He liked her there, he realized. He grinned again, scooping another mouthful of liquid up.
The door of Kaede's hut suddenly snapped up, shocking Miroku into choking on the stew. "I told you I smelled food," Inu-Yasha's voice followed him into the home. Trying to breathe past the burning in his throat, Miroku glared at the hanyou.
"Did I argue with you?" Kagome's softer tone echoed after the hanyou's as she too appeared in the hut. Miroku felt his eyes lighten at seeing the girl, and Inu-Yasha, he grumbled half-heartedly, safe and whole.
"Kagome!" Shippo shouted, forgetting his meal as he shot into the miko's arms.
"Hey there, Shippo," Kagome said with a laugh. She hugged the kit close, and Miroku could see how much she had missed the youkai. The houshi turned his attention to Inu-Yasha as Sango also got up to greet the miko.
"Well," Miroku started as he made up a bowl of dinner for the hanyou. "It's good to see both of you safe and sound," he continued, making his way to the other male.
"Was there a doubt?" the hanyou growled, taking the food held out to him. The houshi blinked silently at the funny look in Inu-Yasha's golden eyes. Then the hanyou had moved away. But what had been barely hidden in the hanyou's gaze? Had something bad really happened to him and Kagome?
Miroku shook it off. He was probably reading way too far into Inu-Yasha's look. He turned back to finish his stew. The hanyou and miko had probably just got into a fight. They were fine
((Without You))
"I need to go home," Kagome stated a little after dinner had been cleaned up. Sango stood up even with the miko, her eyes trained on the hanyou, expecting resistance. Kagome seemed unconcerned as she lifted her almost empty yellow bag onto her shoulder.
"I'm coming with you," Inu-Yasha replied, getting to his feet and sliding Tetsusaiga into its place at his waist. Miroku, Sango, Kaede, and even Shippo stared in shock as the hanyou and miko calmly left the hut in silence.
"Are you alright?" Inu-Yasha asked, keeping his eyes on the road before them.
"Yeah, I'm doing ok," Kagome replied, kicking a small stone out of her path. "I won't be long. I just need a few things."
"Take your time," he answered softly. He shifted his eyes to the miko, and couldn't turn away again. The setting sun was hitting her ebony hair and making it glow. Her slightly tanned skin was dancing with the last of the sun's rays. Her eyes… Inu-Yasha's heart clenched in his chest at the dark look haunting her eyes. "Kagome," he breathed, reaching out to touch her arm just as the reached the clearing around the well.
"You don't have to go if you don't want," she replied, misunderstanding his call. "I know how much the smells in my time bother you. I'll be back in an hour or so, I promise."
"No, I'm fine." He slowly lifted his hand, hesitated, and then rested his palm against her cheek. He heard her sharp intake of breath and then her quick gasps as she tried to breathe normally.
"In—Inu-Yasha?" she stammered, her eyes wide.
"Stay the night," his thumb moved against her smooth skin, "or as long as you'd like. We can go after Naraku later." He watched tears fill her eyes, and wondered what he had said this time. "Kagome?" he asked, wanting to take away her pain. The miko sniffled, and tried to smile.
"It's alright. I'm alright."
"At least stay the night. Sleep in your bed, I know how much you like that," Inu-Yasha pressed. Kagome searched his face before slowly nodding, making his rough palm brush her skin.
"Well, come on then," she said with a smile.
A real smile, he realized as she turned to the bone eater's well. The thought made him smile too. As she sat on the edge and swung her legs around, she turned to look at him again.
"Are you coming?" she called.
"Feh," he muttered, moving closer. Kagome reached out to rest her hand on one of his crossed arms.
"See you on the other side." She smiled again before sliding into the time strip.
"Feh," Inu-Yasha replied again. He darted his eyes around the clearing, feeling like he was being watched. Seeing nothing, and smelling no one, the hanyou shrugged it off. Shaking his head, he jumped into the well after Kagome.
((Without You))
"What was that?" Miroku asked, unable to tear his gaze from where Inu-Yasha and Kagome had stood only moments earlier.
"That's a good question," Sango replied. Silence fell between the two.
"So, you think it has to do with while we were apart?" the houshi finally added. He stood up, dusting off his robes.
"It has to be," the taijiya agreed, straightening next to him. "They weren't here long enough, and we've been with them the whole time." She shook her head. "What happened? Those two were acting weirder than when they just argue."
"I agree," Miroku said with a nod. He laid an arm over the taijiya's shoulders "Come, let us wait for their return. Maybe if we can talk to them alone, we can figure out what's going on." He turned Sango around and began to move back toward the village and Kaede's hut.
"I don't know," the taijiya muttered. "Kagome didn't seem very in the mood to talk." The older miko's hut loomed before them.
Miroku shrugged as he moved the door for her. "Maybe a good night's sleep in her time will help," he replied, following the taijiya into the hut.
Sango laughed. "Does that same plan work for your discussion with Inu-Yasha?"
Miroku grimaced as he and Sango sat down by the cooking fire. "For some reason, I think not." The taijiya laughed again at his words.
Kaede and Shippo shared a confused look. "They're acting weird," the kit pointed out.
The miko nodded. "Aye, child."
