Unknown Intent

Inuyasha is not mine. Cookies to freakshow1373 for getting my reference to Lilo and Stitch last chapter :) Here's to the first chapter with some actual Kagome/Inuyasha fluff! Please excuse any grammar/spelling errors.

Enjoy

Ch.9

The day passed at a snail's pace for Inuyasha, never before had he actually looked forward to the new moon and his night of humanity. Several times throughout the day he almost dropped the plan, the risk of being caught by Kagome (or worse Sango) trying to leave the apartment grounds and revealing one of his deepest secrets almost too great. But the chance, even if a very slim one, to rid himself of slavery and become a free man was too good to pass up. So he swallowed his anticipation and tried to be patient as the sun slowly inched its way across the sky.

After what seemed like centuries, Inuyasha waited on baited breath as the sun slowly started to sink under the horizon. A tingle started moving under his skin, like thousands of pins and needles moving along his body, and he fought the urge to scratch. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes as the tingling passed over his head, and felt his eyes, nose, and ears burn slightly. The moment passed as quick as it had come, and Inuyasha slowly opened his violet-blue eyes to the darkening twilight.

Scowling at the lack of hearing, smell, and sight that he was used to, the fully human Inuyasha glanced at the apartment; eyes trained to the lighted windows . Dropping carefully out of the Sacred Tree, he ignored the cold concrete under his bare feet and slowly walked to the stair entryway. Feeling his heart rate speed up, he stopped just on the edge of the first stair. Looking down the long stairway that eventually met the side walk below, he took a deep shuttering breath.

And stepped down.

Crickets began to sing as Inuyasha stared wide eyed at his left foot on the second stair, barely breathing. A smirk slowly appeared on his face, and he swallowed the yell of joy that almost escaped. His hunch was right. Without his demon blood tying him down, he could leave. Looking at the bright lights of Tokyo, his hands formed into tight fists. Though he wanted to run down the steps in abandon and keep running until his legs gave out, he knew he had to be smart about this. Wrenching himself from the stairs, he slowly crept to the storage shed in the backyard. Once inside, he coughed slightly at the smell of dust and grabbed a small duffel bag nestled in a corner. Double checking to make sure all his new cloths were inside, he grabbed a thin black jacket with matching shirt and jeans and quickly changed. Now adorned in all black, he grabbed the duffel and sat behind some bushes with a view of the downstairs and bedroom windows.

Now Inuyasha would wait for the girls to go asleep. After that…he would be gone.

…

Kagome stared blearily at her ceiling, blue eyes tired and worried. Sighing heavily she massaged her temples and willed herself to go to sleep. "It's all his fault I can't sleep," she muttered, glaring at the ceiling like it was Inuyasha himself. After the fiasco this morning, Kagome hadn't seen a glimpse of him all day. Even when she made a cup of ramen as a sort of peace offering at lunch, when she came back to the tree the cup was untouched and cold. This silent treatment was worse than when they first met, and it left her confused and hurt.

We were doing so good, he seemed to be adjusting well from what I could tell then this happens! What's so bad about it being a new moon anyway? But even if she wanted to, Kagome couldn't aim her frustration at the dog hanyou, somehow the new moon was an extremely touché subject for him.

"I just wish I knew why so I could help or something," Kagome exclaimed quietly, mussing with her comforter. Knowing that she would not be sleepy for a while now, Kagome left her bed and walked to the kitchen. Wincing at the 12:45 am that blared from the microwave, Kagome just knew she would be exhausted the rest of the morning. Grabbing a cup for some water, she shuffled to the fridge in her light blue flannel pants and dark blue tank top. Glancing out the kitchen window as she took a sip, she suddenly spewed the water out and dropped to the floor.

There was someone just behind bushes outside. A stranger.

Gulping down a shriek, Kagome tried to calm down the frantic beating of her heart. Maybe it was just her imagination, eyes fooling her sleep deprived mind. Biting her lip, she slowly inched her way up the countertop until she was able to see ever-so-slightly past the window sill. Due to the moon missing, it was already hard to distinguish the black-ish bushes from the rest of the black-ish yard. Thankfully though, the tiny back porch light was on and shed a dim glow, letting Kagome see if she focused.

Suddenly a tall shadow rose out of the shrubbery, Kagome frozen in place as she watched. It hesitated, and then slowly walked out of the bushes. Eyes widening, Kagome began to open her mouth to scream for Sango when the glow highlighted the person's face.

….Inuyasha?

Her brain refused to comprehend what her eyes were showing her. That couldn't be him; this man had black hair while Inuyasha's was silver. Inuyasha eyes were gold and not the faint purple hue of this man's eyes. Inuyasha was a half demon, and this person was clearly all human.

And yet…

The height, the posture, the wary look she had seen in the brief glimpse in the light all screamed Inuyasha. Watching as the Inuyasha-look-alike sneaked beyond the window, Kagome found herself crawling towards the front door on her hands and knees. Rising to her knees, she opened the door a sliver, cramming her head against the crack to see the man. Watching the silhouette walk to the stairs against the tiny lights of Tokyo, her heart began to pound when he hesitated. Holding her breath when he seemed to look back at the apartment, Kagome felt something sink to her stomach when he walked down the steps and disappeared from view.

All was still silent at the apartment. Kagome could faintly hear the cricket's chirping as she stared through the crack of the door. Though the man was gone, she felt horribly uneasy and couldn't quite figure out why. The shadowy image of the man's face appeared in her mind, and she bit her lip. The resemblance between Inuyasha and this stranger was so uncanny; like Inuyasha just changed his hair color or something…Suddenly a thought struck her, more of a memory to be precise. She remembered reading something from one of Sango's books, a small paragraph about half-demons and their monthly change…

Running upstairs to grab her cell, Kagome shoved her feet into some gym shoes and yanked her brown jacket off the hook before rushing outside. Panting as she walked down the steps two-at-a-time, Kagome ignored the looks from other citizens when she reached the bottom. Whipping her head from left to right, she inwardly cursed Tokyo for being just as crowded at night as it was in the day.

"A-ha!" she gasped when she found a head of long black hair traveling through the throng of people. The Sango voice of her brain told her this idea was crazy and she could really get into trouble. But a softer voice, barely heard against the screaming of the rational part of her brain, whispered that her hunch was right and to follow him.

So she did.

…

Inuyasha kept his eyes to the ground, hands stuffed in his pockets as he wove through the crowds, barely getting a second glance from the people around him. He didn't mind, it was what he wanted after all. Shifting the duffel bag on his shoulder, he ignored the slightly upset feeling in his stomach.

It's just hunger. I'm not feeling anyguilt whatsoever…

But the face he imagined Kagome would make when she realized he was gone the next day flashed through his head. The upset face when she realized all the effort into trying to befriend him had all but vanished, the expression of a person used then cast aside like trash. Shaking his ebony head, Inuyasha picked up the pace, trying to push the weak feelings his human night always brought out of his head.

"I paid the debt of my life when I saved her from that centipede woman. I'm not tied to her anymore," he reasoned under his breath, his reason sounding feeble when it came from his mouth. Feeling his shoulders start to ache from the tension, Inuyasha spotted a bus stop bench and quickly walked towards it. Collapsing with a heavy grunt, he spotted a granola bar peeking out of the grocery bag of the young woman next to him. Smirking slightly from the way she was immersed in her cell phone conversation, he didn't even blink as he swiped it. Wincing as he crunched into it, he started to pick out the raisins and fling them onto the road.

"What I wouldn't do for some ramen," he mumbled out, stuffing the rest into his mouth. But the thoughts of the noodles ran into thinking how Kagome was the one to introduce him to it. Frowning deeply, he craned his neck to look at the night sky. A flicker of blue and pale skin passed within his peripheral view and he froze. Raising his left hand to scratch his forehead, he discreetly glanced towards the building where he saw it.

Some punk guy talking with a chick…old lady walking a dog…girl reading a newspaper in blue pajama bottoms…wait a minute! Facing the road again, he cursed aloud, causing the girl next to him to glare slightly before resuming her conversation.

Grabbing his bag Inuyasha set off into the crowds, he tried to keep down his frustration and slight panic. Calm down Inuyasha, you're jumping to conclusions. There's no way that was Kagome, I was sure that no one saw me went I left… But as he stomped down the sidewalk, the anxiety refused to fade; the skin at the nape of his neck tingling with the feeling of being watched.

Eyes flashing, he muttered to himself, "One way to find out." Spotting a street leading to some rougher parts of the city, he turned to it suddenly and started fast walking. The hubbub of the main streets soon started to fade as did the crowds. Instead some rather shady looking characters idled by the old apartment buildings and small shops, glaring out at the world under the shadows that cloaked them.

Paying them no mind, Inuyasha wove through the dark sidewalks and back alleys, never looking back once. After a few minutes, he ducked into a side alley and waited. Footsteps reached his ears, and he tensed. A skimpy-clad woman walked past him, bad perfume wafting to his nose. Watching her yell into a cell into the phone in her hand, Inuyasha sighed in relief. "Guess it was just my imagin-" Rapid footsteps interrupted him, a lithe body suddenly rushing past, followed by three males clothed in dark, baggy outfits.

Eyes widening, Inuyasha watched the girl's long black hair fly behind her; the blue of her pajama pants flashing under the dim street lamps as she ran. Recognition pulsed through him and without a second thought Inuyasha joined the chase, the duffel forgotten back at the small niche in the alley.

…

Legs pumping and throat burning, Kagome gasped for air as she sprinted. Hearing the heavy thuds of the footsteps of the thugs behind her, she skidded into a narrow opening on her right. Squinting in the darkness, Kagome briefly wondered if she was just a bad-luck magnet. Or maybe even had a huge sign glued to her forehead that said: HEY GANSTERS AND RAPISTS! I GO FOR THE CRAZIES! COME AND GET ME!

She should have never left her bed.

Pushing off a brick wall to keep her momentum, Kagome took a chance and glanced back to see how far her pursers were behind her. "Kyaaaa!" she squealed when her foot caught the shoelace, breath knocked out of her lungs as she crashed down. Dark chuckles reached her ears, her heart racing. Scrambling up, Kagome practically threw herself into the next opening. A looming wall met her eyes, and she felt a sob rise in her throat. Whipping around, Kagome pressed herself into the wall as the three figures crept closer, the panic rising.

Their pleased whispers swept over her, the tone making her break out in a cold sweat.

Kagome was scared.

No, scratch that, she was terrified.

Feeling her hip burn, she knew her wound opened up again as the men came closer. "W-What do you want from me?" she choked out. They halted for a brief moment, but spoke nothing, and continued to inch closer to her shivering form. Their silence frightened Kagome the most, but she couldn't find her voice to scream for help.

Suddenly the trio was scattered as another figure barreled through them, coming to a stop just in front of Kagome. Legs apart and ready to fight, Kagome stared at the back of the newcomer with watery eyes.

"You always need to be rescued Kagome. It's a pain in the ass." Mouth gaping as the sarcastic remark echoed through her ears, the happiness that erupted from her heart almost caused Kagome to faint.

I'm saved.

A yell tore itself from Inuyasha's mouth as he rushed the three men, slamming his fists into whatever body he could reach. Quickly knocking one out, he faced the two left with a confident smirk on his face. Easily dodging their attacks even in his human state, he chuckled at their growing anger. Suddenly a hand grabbed his ankle, almost causing him to fall over.

Growling down at the guy he 'supposedly' knocked out, Inuyasha heard Kagome scream before he felt the knife.

Shit. Not good.

Hissing in pain, Inuyasha lashed out at the goon with the knife, effectively hitting him on the chin and causing some teeth to loosen. Giving the guy holding his ankle a good kick to the head with his free leg, Inuyasha felt himself being smashed into the wall painfully by the last man. Suddenly there was a hollow 'thump!' and the pressure on his back released. Turning around, Inuyasha saw Kagome gripping a large rock in her hands, looking like she couldn't believe what she just did.

Feeling Kagome's eyes turn to him, Inuyasha couldn't look away as she analyzed him. "…Is that really you Inuyasha?" she whispered, stepping closer to him. Feeling his ears burn, he whipped his head to the side before scoffing, "Who else would save your scrawny hide wench?" A moment of silence followed his statement, when suddenly he felt something hard smack his right bicep.

"What the hell-" "You're such a JERK!" Gulping at the fury in her voice, Inuyasha quickly backed into the wall as Kagome began to pummel his chest with her fists.

"All I've done was try to be nice to you yet you still always push me away! We were doing so well then you go and pull a stunt like this! I was so scared Inuyasha when you left! Scared that you would be found and put back into a center again! Or worse! Is it really so bad to be living with me and Sango at the apartment Inuyasha? Did I say or do something to piss you off? Tell me! W-what…what is so b-bad…about staying with me…?"

Feeling her fists clutch his shirt and hearing the wobble in her voice, Inuyasha swore he heard the walls around his heart crack, and seeing Kagome cry pushed him off the deep end. Grabbing her in a tight embrace, Inuyasha nuzzled the top of her head slightly in a soothing manner, and almost smiled when her pleasant scent reached his nose.

Even when I'm human she smells good…

Feeling her heartbeat race against his chest, he felt a warm, dizzy sensation pass over his body, and found himself relaxing. "I'm sorry Kagome…don't cry anymore...k'?" he whispered hoarsely, feeling his body getting heavier by the second. Spots swam in Inuyasha's vision, and he groaned as his left shoulder throbbed. His knees buckled and he heard Kagome gasp in surprise. Faintly hearing her voice calling out his name, he breathed in her pleasant smell before his world went black.

…

Kagome gratefully accepted the cup of hot tea Sango gave her and took a sip, eyes never leaving Inuyasha's face as Sango sat down beside her. The clock showed 2:01 am from the wall clock in Kagome's room, but Kagome knew she wasn't going to sleep tonight. Not after all that happened, and Inuyasha was taking her bed for the night.

"It's still hard to believe it's Inuyasha. I mean, I thought those theories in my books about half-demons going human for a single night every month was just theories. But, I guess it's really true." Kagome nodded slightly, still watching Inuyasha's bandaged chest go up and down.

In and out.

Hearing her companion yawn, Kagome glanced to Sango to see that she was exhausted. Of course anybody would be tired after being woken up in the middle of the night to open the door for a wounded hanyou-turned-human and the girl who was supposed to be asleep in her room.

"Sango-chan, go back to sleep. I'm not tired and I'll watch after Inuyasha," she gently suggested, causing Sango to glare weakly at her. "…Fine. I'll go to bed Kagome-chan, but when I wake up in a few hours, expect the lecture of your life. For both of you." Nodding, Kagome gazed into the brown depths of her tea as Sango exited; the only sounds reaching her ears were the ticking of the clock and Inuyasha's breathing.

Tapping her fingers idly against the white cup, Kagome studied Inuyasha for the thousandth time in the half-hour they returned home. He had the exact sleeping face she first saw him with when they met, so calm compared to his other faces she had seen. Eyes drifting to his bare chest, Kagome blushed wildly.

To think I was hugged into the same chest just a mere half-hour ago…I really should put another shirt on him. But that would also mean touching him, and Kagome felt very shy at the thought. Kagome had been hugged by boys before, but they were always from old class friends whom were attached at the time, or from her one boy cousin Akira. It was mildly pleasant feeling to be embraced by the opposite sex, but with Inuyasha it was entirely different ball of wax.

The first thing that sprang to mind was hot.

His skin was unbelievably warm, like he was out in the hot sun all day, and was incredibly toasty after walking about on a cold, spring night.

The second thing Kagome noticed was his smell.

He didn't stink of sweat or body spray like some other guys she met, but the only way she could describe it was he smelled like a man. A deep, musky scent with a hint of soil and pine needles because of all the time he spent outside. He had smelled good.

The third was the strength Kagome felt in his arms.

He had held her firmly, like she would evaporate if he loosened his grip. She could feel the tendons of his arms ripple when he had squeezed her slightly, and the smooth firmness of his chest against hers. Kagome had witnessed his superhuman strength first hand when he saved her for the first time, and briefly felt it when he supported her weight on the piggy-back ride home. But to be fully enveloped in that power…she couldn't help but feel safe in those arms, and wondered what it would feel like to be held by him when he was a half-demon again.

The last one, was his heartbeat.

She heard it first, because her cheek and ear was pressed right over it. Though it sounded the same as her own heart, it seemed to have an inner power of its own. The 'thump-thumps' were deeper somehow, and the vibrations of the pumping organ against her skin made her breath catch. It was the most comforting sound Kagome had ever heard.

All of these things had rushed Kagome's senses the moment she was pulled into his embrace, which led her to be mighty confused. She remembered her anger and sadness melting away, and the way his voice sounded so small when he apologized. Kagome could tell he didn't say 'sorry' often, if at all.

Then why tonight? Did he feel guilty about trying to run away, or was it when I started crying did he break down? Either way, his sudden affection made her head spin and a tiny part of her relished the closeness of that moment. Placing her cold tea on her desk, Kagome knelt by his head on the carpet. Her mind blank as she stared at the ceiling, Kagome basked in the momentary peace only the night could bring; oddly happy even after all the trouble the last few days.

"…Kikyou…?"

Startling at the raspy question, Kagome turned to see Inuyasha barely awake, staring at her with bleary violet eyes.

Kikyou…? Where have I heard that name before? Wait…didn't he first call me something like that when he first woke up? Saving the thought for later, she gently corrected him; "No Inuyasha, it's me Kagome. We're back the apartment. You should go back to sleep." He looked puzzled for a moment, before shaking his head like a dog trying to get water out of its ears, and refocused on her.

"…Kagome. Right. You're Ka-go-me," he stated, nodding slightly as if to reassure himself that he was right. A giggle threatened to escape her throat at his slightly childish manner, but sobered pretty quickly when he asked his next question.

"Kagome…can I rest my head on your lap?" Feeling a blush that would make a tomato jealous rise to her cheeks, it didn't help at all when he stared at her with his big violet eyes. Not trusting her voice, Kagome wordlessly stood up and shuffled on her bed; the blush spreading to the roots of her hair when he moved his head on her folded thighs. Sighing blissfully, Inuyasha looked up at Kagome through his fringy bangs. "You're not gonna cry anymore…right?" Almost fully convinced that he was delirious from blood loss, Kagome only nodded mutely.

Seeming satisfied, he yawned as he shut his eyes, his words slightly slurred as he mumbled out: "Good…it makes me feel bad…when you cry…" Kagome continued to stare down at him for several more minutes, the words spinning in her head. She felt the skin of her legs under his head tingle and heat pool into her stomach, making her feel slightly light-headed. Leaning against the wall to her right, she caught her breath.

Lifting her hand and gently moving some hair out of his eyes, Kagome suddenly felt very tired. Closing her eyes, she was asleep within minutes, a small smile fixed to her lips.

…

Inuyasha felt very refreshed when he woke up, which was odd, seeing as he didn't sleep very often and when he did it was a very restless sleep. Rubbing the grit out of his eyes, he froze when his surroundings finally registered to his brain. Rising up slowly, Inuyasha realized that he was in Kagome's room. Unsure to how exactly he got there, he hissed at a painful twinge in his shoulder. Glancing down, his golden eyes widened at the thick bandages wrapped around his left shoulder and parts of his chest, then the memories of last night flashed through his mind.

That's right…I left the apartment during the new moon and wandered into the slums…somehow Kag-wait! That's right, she followed me and-shit where is she? Feeling the sheets move slightly behind him, Inuyasha whipped around to find Kagome asleep sitting up; dried blood slightly splattered on her pajamas. Breathing easier when he saw she was mostly unharmed, it puzzled him on how she fell asleep in such a weird position.

It's weird how her legs are folded. Almost like someone was lying on her la—

A brief lapse of thought.

Suddenly it clicked, and the blood rushed to his cheeks. What in the seven hells happened last night that caused me to end up in her lap? But the memories were foggy just after the point where he found Kagome cornered by the three men. Stomping down the anger that boiled in his belly, he hoped that whatever he did to those bastards hurt like hell. Slowly moving from the bed, he went to the window and opened it.

The brisk 6am air cleared his head slightly, and he glanced at Kagome. Placing his right hand on his wounded shoulder, Inuyasha walked back to the bedside. Grabbing the semi-thick light blue duvet from the foot of the bed, he placed it lightly around her shoulders; avoiding looking at her face as he did so. Walking away, he killed the urge to look back at the sleeping girl as he left the room, closing the window behind him with a soft 'click'.

…

A good 20 minute drive down the road from the apartment, and another 5 minute drive up the winding driveway, Shinji Yakamura sat rigidly in his study in the private estate, brown eyes sharp as he stared at the flat screen across from his desk. Bold headlines flashed across the screen, photos of a man cut across his stomach, shoulders, and legs in crescent slashes lying on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. The name Yao Kenshou was coupled with 'brutally assassinated' and 'murders the work of serial killer?'

Frowning heavily, he sighed before turning off the screen with a touch of a button. That was two men that Shinji knew personally that were killed, and he had a sinking feeling that it was no coincidence.

"Shinji? What are you doing up so early?" Smile immediately showing on his face, he looked to the beautiful older woman hovering in the doorway. Getting up from his chair, he crossed the room in three strides and swept her in his arms, placing a solid kiss on her lips. Smiling wider at her flustered blush, he wove a hand through her short brown hair and said: "Good morning my dear. How long have you been up?"

Shrugging slightly, she giggled when he placed a light kiss on her neck, hands gripping her shoulders possessively. "Still in after-wedding bliss Shinji?" she asked, and outright laughed at the pout that formed on his lips. "My dear, being married to you will always have me in honeymoon bliss," he stated, twirling her around in a slight spin before clasping both her hands in his own. "Now I know you came to ask me something, speak out my blossom. What is it you desire?" he asked, getting a sheepish grin in return.

"Well…it's Kagome dear. Have you heard from her lately?" Grinning knowingly at her question, he placed a hand on her hip and started to lead her out of the office. "I actually heard from her 2 weeks ago today, calling me to say that she got some stronger help and to congratulate you for being so sneaky with the contract." The woman smiled happily; glad to know her oldest was safe out of her reach, even if she had to slightly black-mail her to do it. A thought occurred to her, causing the smile to widen.

"Shinji, why don't we visit Kagome sometime this week? I haven't seen the apartment since she moved in a month ago and I want to see what she and Sango-san have done to the place. I know you're awfully busy most of the time, but I think it would make her happy if we all went. Please say yes." Staring into her deep eyes, Shinji fell in love with the woman all over again. Whispering his lips over her temple he answered, "I would give you the moon if you but asked. Considerate done. All of us will go see Kagome's humble abode in a small family reunion."

The smile Kagome's mother sent his way whisked away his troubles, and he didn't think about the killings for the rest of the day.

It's dooooooooone. Yes! How did you all like the romance huh? I hope Inuyasha didn't come out as too OOC durning the hug sequence, but he was a bit loopy from the blood loss and pain and had his human emotions to deal with. I personally like the bit with Shinji/Kag's Mom; I view them as the mushy, honey-moon couple except in their 40's XD. Next chapter, Inuyasha and Kagome try to figure out their feelings about each other without upsetting the delicate balance of the house, and how will Kagome's family feel about knowing their daughter is being 'protected' by a half-demon? Find out next time :)

Please review, they are the blood and other vital stuffs of this story, and can't live without them.

NokaNinja