Chapter 10: One Week Later
Sango reached up and grabbed her returning hiraikotsu with practiced ease as Miroku sucked the remains of the huge spider youkai into his wind tunnel. This was one youkai that wouldn't be preying on this village anymore! The monk quickly pulled the beads back in place once he was finished.
"Thank you thank you!" The village's headman bowed. "I can't thank you enough! Anything you want is yours!"
"How about a meal and room for the night?" Miroku asked before glancing over his shoulder at Sango as Kirara turned back to her small form and hopped on her shoulder. The slayer was covered in gore from the spider.
"And a bath."
...
After checking to make sure a certain perverted monk wasn't watching, Sango sighed as she eased into the warm water. After assuring the headman's wife she was okay she began using the soap the woman had left behind for her to wash off.
Sango didn't consider herself particularly squeamish. She had been around gore and death most of her life. Ending up covered in the blood of her kills was simply an occupational hazard. Not pleasant certainly, but still nothing to get too upset about. Usually a nice warm bath would have been just the thing to relax her after a hard fight.
But not tonight.
She looked up as Kirara hopped in with her, then swam over to sit on her lap.
"You're worried about Inuyasha too, huh girl?" She asked Kirara as the fire cat shook off the water.
Sango knew she shouldn't worry so much, but couldn't help herself. With her past she had every reason to worry about those she cared about. If that made her over protective, than she guessed she was over protective.
Besides that she had recognized something in Inuyasha's eyes when he had cringed and pulled away from her. How could she not know that look? It was the same lost, sad expression she saw in her little brother's eyes whenever he was out of Naraku's control.
"Sango?"
The slayer instantly turned towards the voice, hands flying up to cover her breasts.
"Get out of here!" She grabbed a bucket to throw at the monk before noticing something strange.
"What are you wearing?"
Miroku had a dark cloth wrapped around his eyes, and was feeling his way towards the bath.
"They only have the one bath." He said. "I was hoping you'd wish to share? Dinner will be ready soon and I don't want to miss it."
Miroku swore he could feel Sango's glare, and was just about to give up when he heard her exhale.
"Fine, but you stay on your side and keep your hands where I can see them."
The monk nodded as he felt the side of the bath, then began to undress. Sango blushed and turned around, and didn't look back until she heard him slide into the water.
"It's nice." He sighed. "Though I wish Inuyasha was here..."
Sango raised an eyebrow at that. "You...miss bathing with him?"
"What? No no no! Not in that way!" Miroku waved his hands. "But there are things a man can only speak of with another man." The monk explained as he dunked his head underwater.
Sango began to scrub her arms. "Oh really? Like what?"
"I wouldn't wish to scandalize you." He replied after popping back up. "Besides, I don't think Inuyasha would like me talking about it."
Sango thought on that for a moment. She rarely had a real talk with Inuyasha. Usually it was just basic pleasantries, shouts in battle, warnings about some danger, or him giving her his own version of a pep talk (which mostly consisted of "Stop moping, get off your ass, and fight!") She was starting to regret never taking the time to really get to know him.
"If you tell me something you talk with Inuyasha about, I'll tell you something Kagome and I talk about."
She could see on his face Miroku was turning the offer over in his mind.
"Alright, but no personal betrayals."
She thought for a moment about her first question. "Does Inuyasha really love Kagome?"
"He does." The monk nodded. "He wants to be with her, but thinks she could never want him. He thinks no woman could ever want a hanyou." He let that settle for a moment, then asked her his question.
"Does Kagome really love Inuyasha?"
"Yes." Sango replied as she sunk up to her neck in the bath. "She told me she thinks about him all the time. But she thinks he only loves Kikyo..." She trailed off. "I wonder if she's told him what happened to her?"
Miroku moved a bit closer to her, Sango offering no objections. "He will be saddened, but I don't believe he'll be angry with Kagome. It wasn't her fault."
...
And so as the minutes passed they both shared what they knew of their friends. Sango learned more of Inuyasha's past, and Miroku learned more of the future world Kagome came from.
"So they have a pill that a woman can take and she won't get pregnant?" He laughed and shook his head. "How does anyone get anything done then?"
"I know right?!" Sango laughed, barely noticing that they had moved closer together. The slayer blushed before asking another question. "Do you think they belong together?"
"I do." Miroku seemed to stare directly at her. "I think there is no one in the world he would rather be with." He looked to his side, a pointless gesture as he couldn't see anything. "Does...Kagome feel the same way about him? If she did it would make...Inuyasha very happy."
Sango swallowed the lump in her throat. "I...I think she does." She hesitated, then grabbed one of his hands. "I think she would love to be with him, no matter what happens." She reached up and pulled on the blindfold. "Do you think 'Inuyasha' would let 'Kagome' take off his blindfold?"
The monk held her hand to his chest. "He would." As the cloth left his eyes he moved close until he was sitting next to her. "And would she want him to kiss her now?"
Sango reached for his head and leaned in towards his face...
"Oh! I'm sorry!"
Both of them quickly turned and covered themselves as the headman's wife stood in the door. "I-I just wanted to tell you that dinner is ready." The older woman covered her eyes and blushed before quickly leaving the room.
Miroku and Sango sat in silence, before the slayer stood up and began to dry herself off. "We uh...we should hurry. Don't want to miss dinner."
"Right." Miroku sighed, silently cursing fate.
...
Kagome lay in her bed, trying to get some sleep but finding it impossible.
Things had been getting better. Inuyasha was talking again, and she was seeing hints of his old self. Momma had been wonderful, giving Inuyasha all of the affection and attention he had always secretly craved. He was rarely away from her mother's side. Kagome was happy to see that he was able to accept her care. Usually it was very hard to get him to admit he needed help, or for him to take it without complaint. He was slowly regaining the weight he had lost, and one day she even saw him smile as he ate some brownies her mother had baked for him.
But some things weren't going so well. At first she had thought it was just her imagination, but as the days went on she became more and more sure of it.
Inuyasha was avoiding her.
Whenever she came near she sensed him getting nervous. After that first night when he had sobbed into her arms, he had barely said a word to her in the entire week he'd lived at her home. He seemed alright with the rest of her family, even helping Momma in the kitchen, cleaning the shrine with her grandfather, or just watching TV with Sota. But as soon as she came around he suddenly felt the need to be someplace else.
'Not that you have any right to complain.' She scolded herself. 'You've done more to hurt him than anyone besides Naraku.'
She tried not to feel hurt by his rejection. If he didn't want to be around her it was completely understandable. Even so she couldn't help the pain that his rejection caused her. Or the guilt that taunted her night and day, telling her that if she had just apologized and asked him to come back that fateful night none of this would have happened. Even if logically she knew it wasn't entirely her fault.
The part of Inuyasha's personality in her mind from the beads told her she should just march over to the guest bedroom, wake him up, and ask what the problem was. Luckily the more rational part of her was still in control and knew that might only drive him further away from her.
Kagome turned onto her back. There had to be a way to make things right between them again. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was for everything. But more than that, she wanted him to feel safe when he was with her.
She sat up at that thought. Was that it? Inuyasha didn't feel safe with her anymore? Did he think she was going to hurt him? Did he not trust her?
She was suddenly jolted out of her thoughts by a nagging sense of wrongness. It took her only a few moments to realize the cause.
She couldn't sense Inuyasha.
Kagome ran to the guest bedroom, finding it empty. She forced down her panic and scanned the room, noticing that the window was open and the Tessaiga was gone.
He hadn't been kidnapped again, he must have left on his own. And there was only one way she couldn't sense him.
He was no longer in this time.
Stopping only to grab her bow, Kagome headed for the well.
...
Inuyasha sat in the branches of the sacred tree, trying to get a hold of himself. He was NOT afraid of the dark!
'What the fuck is wrong with me?' He thought. 'Why can't I just snap out of this?'
This week had been...strange. Not that he wasn't grateful for everything Kagome and her family had done for him. They had treated him far better than he had any right to expect. He just wasn't used to needing help (not that he would ever admit to anyone he needed help).
More than that, he wasn't sure just what his relationship with Kagome was now. Was he still her protector? Or was she now his? It was all so confusing, it was just easier to avoid her so he didn't have to think about it. That meant spending time with Momma (as she insisted he call her). She had treated him like a son, and he enjoyed her warmth. She had even tried to teach him to cook. Thankfully she hadn't insisted he eat his creations, which ended up looking like something Naraku might have spawned.
He also spent time with Kagome's grandfather, who had finally stopped trying to purify him. And of course there was Sota, who liked to watch the thing he called a TV with him. Inuyasha didn't quite understand what the stories were about, though Sota tried to explain that the men with the golden hair who spent all the time standing in place and yelling were great warriors who defended the planet.
Inuyasha shook his head and jumped down to the ground. He wasn't quite as dense as most thought he was. He knew that, sooner or later, he would have to talk with Kagome and find out if she still wanted him to protect her. Or if he even could protect her now. More than anything he worried he had lost his nerve. He hadn't drawn the Tessaiga since the day he was kidnapped, and worried it would no longer transform for him.
He was just deciding whether he should head back through the well or go see what Keade and Shippo were doing when a small, furry bundle ran up to him and jumped in his arms.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo buried his face in his chest. "You're back!"
Inuyasha nearly fell over as he tried to peel the kitsune off of his clothes. "Of course I am runt. Why wouldn't I be?"
Shippo looked up at him, and something in his eyes made Inuyasha pause. "We were all so worried about you." He blinked, seemingly just noticing Inuyasha's short hair. "Um...you look weird with short hair."
"Hey it wasn't my choice." The hanyou replied before Shippo climbed onto his shoulder. "So, Miroku and Sango still gone then?"
"Yeah." Shippo told him. "It's been so boring! Keade is always doing her miko stuff and never has any time to play!" He hugged the back of Inuyasha's head.
Inuyasha nodded in agreement about how boring miko things were before he opened his eyes. "Hey wait a second! What were you doing out here at this hour?"
"Nothing..." Shippo cringed and tried to pull away, looking guilty as hell. Inuyasha grabbed the boy by his tail and shook him, causing a rain of ripe cherries to fall from within the boy's clothes.
Inuyasha held the kitsune up to his face, glaring at him before smirking. "You know what Kagome said she'd do if she caught you stealing from the village again."
"Aw come on!" Shippo crossed his arms as he hung upside-down. "She was just kidding." A look of fear crossed his face. "Right?"
Inuyasha was about to carry the little thief back to Keade when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Kagome was climbing out of the well, and she didn't look too happy.
"Inuyasha!" She shouted. "What are you doing here?"
"Just getting some air." He shouted right back. "What, am I not allowed to?"
Kagome was happy to see him acting like his old self, and to hear his voice. But she was still mad at him. "You scared me half to death!"
"Kagome!" Shippo squirmed in Inuyasha's grip. "Don't believe him! He's a liar!"
Kagome hadn't even noticed Shippo, she had been so focused on Inuyasha. "Wait, what?"
"I caught him sneaking cherries again." Inuyasha smirked, holding Shippo up to her. The kitsune grinned sheepishly as he hung by his tail before a very angry-looking Kagome.
"Shippo, go back to Keade. I'll deal with you later." Kagome ordered him in a tone that said this was not negotiable. Shippo gulped and nodded before Inuyasha let him down, running back towards the village and desperately hoping Kagome would forget before she carried out her threat.
Suddenly alone, Inuyasha and Kagome stood in silence for almost a minute. She could feel that he wasn't going to say anything, so finally she worked up her courage. Her expression softened, and she took his hands in hers before he could pull away.
"Why have you been avoiding me?"
Inuyasha cringed at the question, but it was clear she wasn't going to let him go without answering her.
"I...I don't know."
Kagome let one of his hands go, then reached up to rub one of his dog ears. "Please Inuyasha, I need to know. I promise I won't get mad, no matter what you say."
Inuyasha sighed as she rubbed the soft fur on his ear, closing his eyes. "Because I let you down. I always protected you, and then I couldn't even protect myself."
He opened his eyes. "What if it happens again? What if next time you get hurt or killed because I'm too weak to stop it? I'm too scared to even draw the Tessaiga now, too worried it won't transform for me anymore." He pulled away from her and turned around.
"You should go with Koga. He's strong enough to protect you. I'm sorry I'm so weak. But I still wish to travel with you, if you'll have me."
Inuyasha listened for a response, waiting for her to agree. He hoped that she would at least want to keep him around for a while as a pet or something.
To his surprise he began to smell salt. He turned as a crying Kagome embraced him.
"Oh Inuyasha!" She sobbed. "You don't need to apologize to me. You did nothing wrong. And you are not weak!"
Inuyasha stood stock still, before wrapping his arms around her as an incredible sense of relief washed over him.
"You're the strongest, bravest person I've ever known. I'm sorry for what I said. I did miss you. I missed you every moment of every day you were gone." Kagome wailed, burying her face in his chest. "I know I haven't treated you very well. I know I've abused the beads. I'm sorry for it. It would serve me right if you slammed me into the ground as hard as you can."
Inuyasha's mouth hung open at that. "It didn't hurt..." He began, but was cut off by her sobs.
"You should hate me. I've done nothing but hurt you ever since we met. I don't deserve your forgiveness."
Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's face, gently raising it until she was looking into his eyes. "Kagome, you know that isn't true. You saved me. You took care of me. I don't hate you. I could never hate you." He stared into her sad, wet eyes, and without thinking he leaned down and kissed her.
Kagome was surprised at first, but quickly returned the kiss and grabbed his head in her hands. His lips were much softer than she had imagined they would be. Once it was over she stared into his golden eyes.
"Inuyasha..." She swallowed.
"I'm sorry." He pulled back, clearly expecting a sit for that.
Kagome felt his reluctance and fear. "No, it's okay." She grabbed him and pulled his face to hers again. "Things are going to be different from now on. I never want you to be afraid around me or think you have to hide your feelings. I want you to be yourself. I want you to be able to trust me." She took a deep breath. "Because...because I love you."
She had hoped he would feel the same way, and seeing him scowl afterwards nearly broke her. Until he spoke.
"I smell wolf."
Kagome looked up as she felt two jewel shards approaching them at high speed.
'Oh come on! Why now!'
In moments Koga stood before them. He took one look at the two of them in each other's arms and, faster than the eye could see, punched Inuyasha in the face so hard he was knocked against the sacred tree.
Kagome fell to the ground in agony. She couldn't believe how much it hurt.
"What did I tell you about bothering my woman dogshit?!" Koga shouted as he ran towards Inuyasha, jumping and landing with a stomp aimed at the other boy's head that would surely have caved in his skull if Inuyasha hadn't gotten out of the way. Inuyasha jumped back up, growling at the wolf.
"Too bad you didn't stay gone mutt." Koga taunted him as he kicked Inuyasha in the ribs. "Now I have to beat you while Kagome watches."
Kagome gritted her teeth as she pulled herself to her feet. Inuyasha was dodging Koga's blows, but something seemed off about this fight. Opening herself to Inuyasha's feelings, she found her answer.
Inuyasha knew he couldn't fight back too hard. Kagome liked Koga, she protected him. If he tried to seriously fight back she would sit him. He had always held back against Koga because she wanted him too.
Because a part of him was sure she preferred a full-blooded youkai over a dirty hanyou.
A fresh wave of guilt washed over her. She tried to call out, to tell Inuyasha to fight back, but another blow from Koga knocked her back to the ground.
Inuyasha looked over to her and saw her fall. He tried to get to her, only to be knocked down by Koga.
"Why don't you use your sword dogshit?!' The wolf youkai taunted as he placed his hands around Inuyasha's neck and began to squeeze. "You were almost a challenge with it. Without it you're as weak as your whore of a mother."
Inuyasha's snarled as he suddenly flipped them over so he was on top of Koga. "Don't you dare speak of my mother that way!"
Koga kicked Inuyasha off of him before standing up. "Who's going to stop me dogshit? You?"
"Get away from him!"
A huge red explosion suddenly engulfed Koga, throwing him off of his feet and over beyond the sacred tree. As his vision cleared he found himself staring up at a very angry-looking Kagome, holding her bow with an arrow pointed right at his heart, and surrounded by a red aura that burned so bright it nearly turned night into day.
"Koga," She began in a voice filled with cold rage. "I hope you're listening. I might get annoyed with you if I have to repeat myself."
Once she had his attention Kagome put her bow onto her back and picked the wolf up by his neck with one hand, her strength augmented by her powerful aura. Red light streamed from her eyes as she reached under his kilt, her hand closing around her target as Koga squealed.
"If you ever so much as look at Inuyasha again, I'm going to cut your balls off, put them on a string, and wear them around my neck!" Smoke began to pour out of her clenched hand as the wolf howled in pain. "Do you understand me?!"
Koga nodded frantically. "Yes! Yes I understand!"
"You are nothing compared to him! He has always been there for me, has always protected me. You only come around too annoy him. Well no more. I am not your woman and I never will be! Understand?!" She released his appendage and threw him to the ground.
"Give me your jewel shards. Now!"
"Th-they're yours!" He stammered as he removed the shards from his legs and tossed them to the ground.
Kagome looked to Inuyasha, who was seemingly unable to close his mouth. "Inuyasha, do you want to do anything to him?"
Inuyasha looked to be seriously considering it, then shrugged. "I think he's learned his lesson."
Kagome nodded. "Now get out of here before he changes his mind!"
The wolf stood up and ran as fast as he could, which wasn't nearly as fast as he had been with his jewel shards. His new limp didn't help much either.
Kagome took a deep breath, the red aura fading. Inuyasha caught her before she could collapse. He gently let her down until she was sitting in his lap.
"What was that?" He asked, unable to conceal his shock. Not that he hadn't enjoyed seeing Koga humiliated for a change. "How did you...?"
"It...it's a long story." She sighed and leaned against him, enjoying his warmth.
"Yeah? Well I don't have anywhere I need to be." Inuyasha replied, clearly not going to drop the issue.
Kagome looked down to the ground. She had hoped she could put off telling him for at least a while longer. Still, she did want him to trust her, and that meant being honest with him.
"It all started the night we rescued you..."