Author's Note
Hey everyone! I know it's been a LOOOONG time since I updated Lingering Fingertips. When I originally started writing it, it was only supposed to be 10 chapters with a prologue. I found out that I have too much story to tell to put into only ten chapters, so I'm just going to keep writing until this story is finished. Thank you all for sticking around and commenting on my story. It means the world to me!
Xoxo Saru
Chapter 10
Leaves
A cool breeze sent goose bumps across the flesh of her arm startling Kagome out of her restful sleep. Her eyes adjusted to the light of the morning before she pulled Sesshoumaru's furs closer to her chin. He had long since gone, but she had somewhat expected that of him. He wasn't the kind of man to stay around and cuddle. She shut her eyes again, wondering if what they did was the right thing to do. She had promised that they would have that night, if nothing else. Recalling the night before made her cheeks flush red, so much that she hid her face in her hands even though there was no one there to see her embarrassment.
Kagome wasn't quite sure where Sesshoumaru had gone or what he would be up to, but she climbed out of their makeshift bed and pulled on her clothes. She did her best to control her mess of black hair, but eventually gave up and plaited it into a braid that trailed down between her shoulders and onto her back.
Her eyes were red and swollen from the crying she had done. It was still too strange to wrap her mind around. After all this searching, Inuyasha was actually alive. She had touched him and he had not remembered her. Sesshoumaru said he was bewitched, but even if he weren't, would he remember? Would it all even matter?
Her stomach protested, grumbling for food. She realized she had only eaten a few berries the day before. Kagome grabbed her gathering basket, slipped her feet into her sandals, and opened the shoji screen that lead outside. It was a beautiful day. The air was crisp with a slight breeze. It would be winter soon, but now she could enjoy the changing colors of the leaves. For the first time in a long time, her mind was clear. She was not thinking of anything but the cobblestone steps that led up to the temple. She counted each one as she stepped down, leaves whipping around her ankles.
"Kagome?"
"Sesshou-" Kagome had looked up expecting him, but instead his brother Inuyasha stood. "-maru." She whispered to herself at the sight of the half demon in front of her. He was as how she knew him, silver hair and amber eyes, the only similarity between him and his older brother.
"Inuyasha." She finally managed to say. She made no move to go to him nor did he make a move to come to her. They stared at each other on the steps for a long while before Sesshoumaru stepped out onto the pathway behind his brother.
"I found him near where you had fallen the day before." Sesshoumaru's voice was a mask as always, not indulging any emotion. He glared at his Inuyasha before making his way up the steps, past Kagome without such a glance. She heard the screen of the temple slam shut behind her and it caused her to flinch.
"Kagome? Are you-"
"I'm fine. I'm fine." She said it twice as if she needed to encourage herself to feel that way. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"It's a long story. Will you walk with me?"
For the first time with Inuyasha, Kagome hesitated. Did she want to continue this? Months of months she searched for him, praying that he was still alive; and when she found him, he tossed her aside as if it she were nothing. As if they were nothing. Bewitched or not, the betrayal was deep. She looked behind her at the temple thinking of Sesshoumaru was now probably brooding.
"Yes, I'll walk with you."
