Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha. Eat it.
Twenty One: So Many Hearts, Not enough Happy Endings...
"KAGOME!" Inu Yasha cried out, unable to hide the panic etched in his voice, as he slashed down the bamboo covering of her door. Kouga's deeper voice repeated her name, right behind the hanyou as they barreled into her still standing hut.
Kagome lay still, sprawled face down next to her sleeping pallet. Her head rested on her arm peacefully, raven hair billowed around her looking just as beautiful, if not more, than when she wore a smile upon her delicate face.
In an instant Inu Yasha was at her side, kneeling next to her. How long had it been since he'd this close to her? Time always seemed to slow unbearably whenever she was not near him, and when she was by his side time seemed to stand still.
He held out a tentative hand, willing himself to touch her, willing his senses to make sure she as alive. Her heart beat steadily; her breathing was even as she murmured in her sleep.
"Inu Yasha…" the hanyou forced himself to breathe as he tuned his ears to the sound of her voice. "Osuwari," the hanyou's cry and the resounding crash were loud enough to wake even the dead from the deepest graces.
Kouga laughed heartily at the display of curse words that spewed from the hanyou as he struggled to his feet. How many times had she sat him in her sleep? Too many to count.
Glowering at the still sleeping but no longer innocent miko Inu Yasha snarled his fangs bared.
"Dumb wench," He turned violently pinning Kouga with a menacing stare. "What did you do to her?" He growled standing up to face Kouga, who leaned against the wall.
"Listen mutt-face if Kagome's dreaming about smashing your pathetic face into the ground that often than maybe you should be a little more concerned with what you did to her."
Inu Yasha growled louder, drawing Tetsusaiga, the blade transformed in a flash of light, it alone stood out in the hut in the dead of the night.
"Why you…" Inu Yasha snarled as he directed Tetsusaiga and aimed it at the wolf's neck. "She's exhausted you filthy son of a bitch! She slept through sitting me!"
"Have you considered dog shit that maybe she's ignoring you and doesn't want to wake up because you're here?" came Kouga's snide remark as he gave a lopsided grin, revealing one of his fangs.
Inu Yasha swung Tetsusaiga to his side only to close the distance between them. Nose to nose with Kouga his eyes flared with his reflected anger. "She slept through that blast. It's dangerous for her to sleep that deep! She couldn't hear an ox youkai until it was on top of her!"
Kouga's grin was wiped off his face, as he straightened to Look Inu Yasha square in the eye. "Would you let an ox youkai get that close to her mutt?" his tone dangerously serious. " I'd never let an other youkai near her, let alone harm her. Face it mutt face Kagome's safer with me."
Both men's gazes were cold as they stared at eachother, emotions hidden behind their eyes as the object of their affection stirred in her sleep behind them.
"What did you do to her?" Inu Yasha demanded slowly through gritted teeth. Tetsusaiga's tip scraped the floor.
Kouga grinned suddenly, scratching his head and looking to the ceiling in a thoughtful way. "Hmm, well we did play a lot of tag. Come to think of it we played for about…" he counted his fingers thoughtfully before holding up all the fingers of one hand plus the thumb of his other.
"Six hours."
Kouga had to lunge to the side to escape Tetsusaiga as it came whizzing by him.
"Six hours?" Inu Yasha hollered, turning to pin Kouga with his blade in the corner. "Are you completely fucking nuts or did you forget she's human?"
"Back off stupid pup, I was trying to distract her, Kagome can sense Naraku's aura would you rather I have her worried?"
Inu Yasha paused as if to ponder Kouga's words. He turned his head to the side, still keeping Tetsusaiga poised toward the wolf trapped in the corner. Ears listening to Kagome's even breathing he cocked his head slightly to look at Kouga, his eyes glowing through his bangs.
His golden eyes gleamed like fire in the dark cabin, lit ablaze with a fierceness and intensity that Kouga had only seen once before.
Kouga had met the Inu no Taisho only once before, early in his childhood. The then tiny wolf prince haphazardly stumbled into the Inu no Taisho's private territory.
"Know your place pup," he had warned him, staring down upon the pup with a fierce regal look in his eyes. "Know your place and lead your men well oh prince of wolves,"
The look in the great youkai's eyes Kouga would never forget. He could not forget, for it was reflected in front of him, in Inu Yasha, the spitting image of his late father.
"When day breaks," Inu Yasha told him, eyes gleaming under his bangs, head slightly facing the side. "Run to the next village, find a boy named Kenta, he walks with a crutch. He has something for me. Bring it here no questions asked." Inu Yasha suddenly grinned showing a fang. "Think you manage that wolf shit?"
"In no time dog breath. I could walk there and back faster than you." Kouga countered coolly.
"I ought to kill you," Inu Yasha warned his voice low, tilting the blade of Tetsusaiga slightly.
Kagome mumbled something incoherent in her sleep and rolled over. On instinct Inu Yasha turned to her lowering Tetsusaiga in the process.
"Keh, stupid wench," he mumbled with a shake of his head. When he turned back to finish with Kouda, the wolf was gone. "Fucking wolf," Inu Yasha pulled the sheath from his waistband before he thrust Tetsusaiga into it.
Seating himself against the wall, cradling the sword against his shoulder, he observed the sleeping form of Kagome for a few moments longer before closing his eyes.
"Six hours…dumb fucking wolf."
The tainted Shikon no Tama laid in his palm, purple aura emitting from, reflecting the evil that had settled in his soul.
Torn remnants and pieces of flesh littered the clearing that had serves as their battlefield. The once great demon that had threatened the entire land was nothing more than torn flesh on the dirt.
The battle was over…Sesshomaru had won.
It was not at all difficult to defeat Naraku, scuttling half demon that he was. Pitiful bastard had underestimated the tai-youkai.
Naraku's insects swarmed Sesshomaru's body, stinging, biting, and poisoning any scrap of flesh not covered by his armor. Sesshomaru's expression was irritated but he did not seem at all fazed by the insects poison.
"Do my insects poison render you weak and helpless Sesshomaru?" Naraku asked smugly. Sesshomaru strode forward, the swarm following him. Closing his eyes he sheathed Tenseiga and his eyes gleamed red and cold as he re-opened them.
"Did you forget Naraku, that I am a poison bearing youkai? The poison in my blood counteracts that of your pathetic insects. "
Naraku's expression darkened at Sesshomaru's words.
"Then surely you won't mind if I call come more." No sooner were the words spoken than swarms more of the insects surrounded Sesshomaru.
The tai youkai slashed at them with claws and Tokijin to little avail. Leaping into the air, slashing down at the mass of nuisance he landed away from them.
"Poisonous or not my insects are proving to be a hindrance to you Sesshomaru," Naraku's laughing taunt rang out in his ears.
"Hiding behind these nuisances will not work for long Naraku." Sesshomaru replied his demeanor remarkably cool.
Tetsusaiga. Two filthy hanyou's were all that stood between him and his birthright.
Had his eyes not already been red that color could have been seen bleeding into his eyes, as his fangs grew large at an astonishing rate. Naraku backed away, fear beginning to show on the corners of his face. Then he smiled.
Both youkai, tired of playing their games began to transform into their true selves.
That was all Sesshomaru remembered of the battle.
"It matters not," he mumbled walking toward the edge of the clearing. Something stirred among the bushes.
Stabbing a limb of Naraku's with Tokijin Sesshomaru removed what was covering the bush. Kohaku twitched painfully as the crushing weight on his back was lifted.
The chunk of the Shikon jewel Sesshomaru clutched in his palm called to the shard embedded in Kohaku's shoulder.
"Sustained by the Shikon jewel," Sesshomaru realized. "Its no wonder you won't stay down boy," The jewel glowed in his palm, reacting to Sesshomaru's dark intentions.
Obsessed. Sesshomaru's mind fought valiantly against the illness, but it was a losing battle. He'd never wanted the Shikon no Tama, but so long it helped him get Tetsusaiga, the illness would cause him to act out of character.
'Oh what we do to get what we desire' the words spoke to him as if on the wind.
He pointed Tokijin at Kohaku, the point directly over the gently glowing jewel shard.
"Sesshomaru," the voice was familiar to him. Had he been himself, he would have known the voice right away, might have sensed her presence earlier. Might have known there was no threat.
Spinning around to face the voice of the one who had snuck up on him, slashing with his poison claws, they tore into their targets stomach.
His face fell stopped his attack a moment too late, as she fell into his arms, her lips fell onto his with a soft weight, as light as the wind, but not at all on accident.
For that moment as her lips touched his, his eyes turned normal, returning to their beautiful golden hue and for a moment he found himself.
"Kagura."
This time Kagome was well aware of the fact that she was dreaming. After 6 hours of tag with Kouga she had conked out before she even got to her sleeping pallet.
Now her subconscious mind tried to bring together the pieces of what had come to pass these past weeks.
Inu Yasha told kagome he loved her, he needed her by the well that night. Out of character, yes, but after that things went bad
Inu Yasha found out about the betting pool they all had going on when he'd finally made his move. He was actually more upset that she had been in on the pool. Kagomes guess had been never since up until that night she was convinced that Inu Yasha thought of her as a jewel detector and nothing more.
After that things just went downhill. "I can't protect you and be with you." Those words had hurt and confused her.
Thank a chance meeting with Inu Yasha's conscience, which she seemed to have created in Inu Yasha by the way, shoved her on the other side of what she thought were hurtful memories of Inu Yasha. His conscience proved her wrong and everyone else right.
Having things finally in perspective she ran through the rain only to find herself hopelessly stuck in the mud. Acting on impulse she cried out in the rain, cry of despair, panic, all the fear and mistrust was gone as she screamed to the blackened sky.
"Inu Yasha!"
And he came, reunited at long last in the mud and the rain but together in his arms the rain finally died down as all the anguish she'd been feeling washed away as the feel of his heart beat rhythmically next to her ear, his arms around her.
But happiness for the two of them could not be achieved. No, curse the gods that had plagued her with misfortune in her love life. Kikyo just had to show up.
Since then, since she let Kikyo talk to Inu Yasha the only time she'd seen him was when he barged in to drag Kouga out of her hut.
"You need to wake up," a familiar voice told her, soft and comforting.
"I know that voice," Kagome whispered awake in her dreams, fast asleep in reality.
The tall man, the split down the middle of full demon Inu Yasha on the right and human Inu Yasha on the left. He grinned wide at her, revealing half a set of fangs and half a set of human teeth. The site of his awkward smile made kagome laugh.
Inu Yasha's conscience face brightened. "Laughing? Quite a difference since the last time we met."
Kagome straightened proudly, "I've come to terms with it all. I trust him."
His conscience nodded knowingly. "You love him, ne?" and kagome nodded in response, "Good, it will be put to the test."
"What did you say?" Kagome asked worried, his conscience waved it off.
"Never mind you'll see in due time, for now though wake up and enjoy this day. Be strong Kagome"
"No!" Kagome grabbed his sleeve, "Something's gonna happen isn't it? What aren't you telling me?"
"I only tell you what Inu Yasha can sense. The threats grow stronger. You must enjoy this day."
"You say that like it will be my last," Kagome asked, hugging herself to push away the sense of foreboding. His conscience shot her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, just remember Kagome if something is to happen you must make it happen,"
Kagome took care to take in the meaning of his words. Her gaze met his an intensity and yet innocent curiosity behind her chocolate brown eyes.
"Including love?" she asked
A smile played across his lips he gave a short shake of his head,
"No," Kagomes face fell to her feet. Grabbing her chin to look up at him he gave her a warm knowing smile, "Starting with,"
Kagome smiled and made to hug him but his conscience waved his arms and pushed her away with a laugh.
"No time for that shit, you've got to wake up!"
Kagome sighed reluctantly,
"How can I thank you?"
"Wake the fuck up for one thing," his conscience replied with an infectious smirk identical to Inu Yasha's.
When she opened her eyes she had to squint against the sunlight pouring into the hut as her eyes adjusted to the light she sat up yawning stretching luxuriously.
She ran her fingers through her hair as she scanned the room. Her eyes locked with a pair of golden eyes gazing into hers, piercing her soul, and breaking her defenses.
They stayed that way, staring at eachother across the hut, mere feet separated them but there was so much more between them, unseen, unspoken.
Lost in his gaze no coherent thought could form in her mind. Her hand was still in her hair for Kami's sake.
"How do you do this to me?" The thought found its way into her mind. "How do you make me forget to breath, make my heart forget to beat? With a single look you render my mind completely useless."
Inu Yasha sighed and looked down breaking gaze. The look in her eyes gave him that feeling again. The feeling he got whenever she sighed and leaned against him. When she did that it always left him looking at her half stunned, half confused.
Who are you?Where did you come from?How do you do that? Why do you affect me so? Confuse me as you do? Make me feel…something when for so long there was nothing.
Relaxing again he realized that he didn't care to find out. So long as she made him feel complete.
And to look her in the eyes knowing she didn't feel the same way…was unbearable.
"You better eat," he informed her as he stood up and left, brushed by her like she was never there.
"Oh god, how did things go so wrong?" Kagome thought miserably when his consciences words came back to her.
"If something is to happen, you must make it happen."
"Including love?"
"No, starting with."
"That barrier was yours then." Sesshomaru remarked as Kagura pulled away. The look on her face was pained, no doubt from the poisonous gash on her abdomen. She nodded.
"I've been training with an old hag." She told him, trying to stand straight but winced painfully and hunched over.
Sesshomaru regarded her wound with a solemn quiet look. He looked at his own poison tipped claws that had inflicted the wound.
"This Sesshomaru did not was for your help, nor need it."
Kagura managed a painful smile. "I give it willingly in hopes of something in return."
"This would be the reason you snuck up from behind. Had you just come forward you would not have been wounded."
Kagura stood straight despite the pain. "I had to stop you. I can't let you kill Kohaku."
Sesshomaru waved a hand over Kohaku's body. "All that sustains his corpse is a shard of the jewel. It'd be better to let him die. Death is not meant to be trifled with." He informed her coldly.
"So says the man who wields a sword of life!" Kagura shot wickedly. Sesshomaru regarded her outburst coolly. Kagura's demeanor calmed as she stared into Sesshomaru's hard eyes. It was then she realized that he could kill her in an instant. He would have already had she not startled him when she had kissed him.
Why had she done that? To startle him from stabbing her through with his claws? On accident, not at all. He killed Naraku, freed her from his wrath. Was the kiss merely an expression of her gratitude? No. She was free to do what she had wanted to do for a long time.
"His life was stolen form by Naraku. He was tortured, more than me and Kanna combined."
Sesshomaru's eyes pulsed red and he turned fiercely to face Kagura. Kagura's own magenta eyes met his. She nodded and continued. "Naraku tortured our minds. Made us believe we had parents. Used our worst fears against us."
Kagura noticed the way he clenched and unclenched his fists in agitation and more than anything she wanted to reach out and touch him, comfort him. "You killed Naraku."
Sesshomaru calmed. "If anything that puts you in my debt. Why should I do this?"
"Do it for me!" Are you so cold, he's just a child! You are not the man I thought you were!" Kagura raged her cold yet fiery gaze matching his. As her anger raised the winds whipped about her, tossing her hair about wildly, making her looks more beautiful.
"For you? You will be dead like him," Sesshomaru told her, his voice wavering slightly out of frustration. The look on Kagura's face told him that she had no idea what he was talking about. "You're poisoned Kagura. Do you really wish to use this one favor I offer on a human boy?"
Kagura walked up to him, facing him directly looking up at the Tai youkai who towered over her. "I have my freedom, you gave it to me, my peace will come in death when I return to the winds. Just. Save. Him."
Sesshomaru let out a soft sigh, which surprised Kagura. The expression he wore on his face was an almost pleading one, as if he was begging her to reconsider. He turned to walk over to Kohaku but Kagura caught his shoulder. He remained silent as Kagura used his arm to support herself.
Sesshomaru complied silently, adjusting her on his arm placing his own hand over her own to steady her heartbeat that beat wildly in his ears. He led her over to Kohaku, looking as if he were taking her out on an expensive date. He leaned down to take the jewel from Kohaku's shoulder.
Then he slowly drew Tenseiga, shaking his arm slowly to push Kagura away. She staggered and his hand reached out to steady her on instinct. She put a shaky hand on his shoulder, leaning against him.
"You're sure," he asked his tone quiet and calm.
"Please," she whispered and she held out a shaky hand over his body and it glowed with a blue light. Sesshomaru slashed through the cretins that had come to take Kohaku's soul as Kagura's hand cast blue light over the boy's body.
Kohaku gasped to life at the same time Sesshomaru felt Kagura's hand fall from his shoulder. Whirling around, sheathing Tenseiga he caught her limp body in his arms and drew her close.
Sesshomaru stalked through the clearing, scouring the area for a clear space to lay Kagura down. Eyes flashing red, he finally slashed and kicked Naraku's remains out of his way. Gently he laid her down at the base of a tree and stood.
Kagura's own words echoed in his mind. "I have my freedom, you gave it to me, my peace will come in death when I return to the winds."
Tenseiga pulsed at his hip, begging to be used. It was more than the sword that begged him to save her. His heart begged as well.
Without a second thought Tenseiga was drawn as he slashed through the soul claiming demons.
Kagura sat up with a startled gasp, as Sesshomaru slowly sheathed Tenseiga. Kagura rose to her feet and her hand was mere inches from slapping him across the face when he caught her by the wrist.
"How dare you!" she screamed at him, and the look on her face clearly showed she was neither above nor below spitting at the demon lord.
"How dare I? How dare I stop you from striking me, revive that boy save your life?" Sesshomaru's voice rose until he was shouting the last three words.
"Why would you save me? You gave me only one favor. I was free in death! Why let me live!" she yelled confused. Sesshomaru tightened his grip on her wrist, which he still held close to his face.
"Do not question this Sesshomaru's motives," he told her coldly. "This Sesshomaru willed it to be so." He added much more quietly.
Kagura noticed his grip on her wrist had loosened and she was surprised when he allowed her to place her hand on his cheek.
"Thank you my lord," she whispered leaning close to place a soft kiss on his cheek, close to his lips.
The orange tinted sky loomed overhead as Kouga walked up to the tree where Inu Yasha sat. The wolf prince's features were set in a slight scowl.
Inu Yasha's ears twitched as he heard Kouga coming toward him and caught his scent on the wind. Leaping lazily from the tree he marched over to Kouga.
"Took you long enough, Miroku could have made it there and back faster." Inu Yasha quipped his demon blood waning as the sun started to set.
Kouga just kept his head low, his head blank and expressionless. Inu Yasha waved a hand in front of his face. "You got something for me wolf?" and Kouga nodded. Almost reluctantly Kouga pulled something from behind his back.
Dangling from a wooden stick was Kagome's necklace. It was identical to Inu Yasha's, almost. The circular beads were pink, and every five beads there was a fang but in the center, the focal point of the necklace was a heart.
Inu Yasha gingerly lifted the necklace off the wood with a finger and held it up to his eye level. He poked the heart with a claw and the necklace swayed.
"Kid did good, I Better ask him if he knows how to get the damn thing off," Inu Yasha said finally, referring to his own cursed necklace, and lowered the necklace to look at Kouga. He was still holding the wood the necklace was dangling from.
"Why the fuck are you still holding that stick fo…" Inu Yasha started to say but his expression turned dark. "Where did you get that?" he demanded his voice dangerously low. Kouga was holding the miniature Tetsusaiga Inu Yasha made Kenta.
"Whoa Inu Yasha wait," Kouga said frantically as Inu Yasha drew the real Tetsusaiga simultaneously yanking the wooden one out of Kouga's hands.
"Where did you get this?" Inu Yasha roared, Tetsusaiga's tip touching Kouga's throat. "D-did you kill him?" Inu Yasha choked out.
"I went to the village, I sniffed out his hut. His aunt was there she gave me the necklace." Kouga explained. "There was damage there Inu Yasha, from the blast. They- they said that some kids were playing near the woods,"
"Kenta wouldn't play near the woods with the other kids!" Inu Yasha growled.
"Let me finish. The kids were playing near the woods before the blast. Some of the women said Kenta took that sword to get them away from there. The kids saw the huge dog in the woods and ran. Inu Yasha couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Kenta…couldn't- couldn't go fast enough. The blast…he's gone."
Inu Yasha ground his teeth together in an attempt to push back the burning sensation in his eyes. Kouga lowered his gaze. "He's a hero, he saved those kids."
A familiar wind began swirling Tetsusaiga, still pointed at Kouga. Inu Yasha's eyes were hidden under his bangs, his sword arm clenched tightly and quivering.
Kouga dove to the side, rolling in the grass as Inu Yasha raised Tetsusaiga over his head, howling a wordless cry of despair while unleashing a powerful wind scar right where Kouga had been standing. The wind scar raced, tearing through the dirt and grass until it hit the forest. Several birds flew out of the forest followed by a resounding crack as the trees toppled over.
But Inu Yasha wasn't done yet. He turned on his heel ready to take out his pain and anguish on the barren tree he often sat in.
The wind wrapped around the blade once more. Kouga leapt up and disabled the hanyou with a swift uppercut to the jaw. Yanking Inu Yasha by his haori he drove his knee into his stomach. Another punch to his face brought him down. Tetsusaiga fell from his hand as Inu Yasha made no attempt to defend himself.
Kouga pinned him down. "What are you thinking?" he growled slamming Inu Yasha into the ground, his claws digging into Inu Yasha's biceps.
"Get off of me!" Inu Yasha yelled, struggling to throw Kouga off of him.
"Not until you tell me what the fuck was going through that thick head of yours?" Kouga growled his voice menacing. Inu Yasha snarled, still unable to throw Kouga.
"If you released the wind scar on that tree it would have kept going," Kouga grabbed a fistful of Inu Yasha's hair and forced the hanyou to look at what lay behind the tree.
The village. His friends…
"K'gome," Inu Yasha breathed. Kouga threw Inu Yasha back onto the ground and Inu Yasha did not resist in the slightest. Kenta's sword and the necklace were still clutched in his hand.
Kouga got off him and stepped away and Inu Yasha heard him pause.
"Who was he?"
Who was he? Some young kid that he took pity on? Kenta was picked on, teased, shunned because he was different, exactly as Inu Yasha had been all his life. He felt closer to Kenta than he had his own flesh and blood brother. It wasn't just pretend…not to him.
"He was my brother," but Kouga was already gone.
Kouga sniffed the air and pause din his stride.
"Kouga!" Ginta called as he and Hakakku ran forward toward him.
"About time," the wolf prince muttered as the two men swarmed him.
"We're sorry Kouga," Hakakku told him.
"Well come faster next time," Kouga told them irritably. Ginta shook his head.
"Not for that Kouga," he muttered but Kouga wasn't looking at him. A small tornado approached, as the wind subsided and slowed to a halt Ayame stood staring hard at Kouga.
"She followed us," Hakakku explained.
"Leave," Kouga said keeping his voice low his eyes on Ayame.
"Yeah you heard him girlie!" Ginta enforced.
"Not her," Kouga said slowly. "You two,"
"But Kouga," Hakakku started but his brother dragged him off.
All was silent for a moment before Kouga turned to gaze at the setting sun.
"Kouga you promised. The lunar rainbow…" Ayame started.
"I remember," he said without turning to face her. Ayame took a step toward him.
"You remember? But before… you said…"
"I know, I know what I said," he turned to throw over his shoulder.
"Then why Kouga?" she asked as he spun around suddenly, pinned by the intensity of his ice blue eyes.
"Why do you want to mate with me? Just because I promised?"
Suddenly angry by the way his gaze made her feel like a child Ayame stood straighter.
"No, I love you."
"You barely know me. You can't love me."
"But I want to! You keep pushing me aside like, like I'm some child while you go chasing after that girl Kagome."
"I have to defeat Naraku." Kouga said slowly, looking at his hands unable to continue to stare at such emotion in her eyes. " I have to avenge my pack. I can't guarantee I'll survive, so just find someone else. I don't want to hurt you Ayame."
Ayame but her hand in his the action drawing his eyes from his hand to her face.
"I'm not a child Kouga, you don't have to protect me," she whispered softly, squeezing his hand. To her surprise Kouga pulled her to him in a tight embrace crushing her against his chest.
"I do have to protect you. I made you a promise…you're my chosen."
"Kouga." Ayame breathed wishing she could say more but was more than happy to watch the sunset in her chosen's arms. "You'll come back Kouga." She said softly after a moment.
"You don't know that…" he replied just as softly.
"I do, you promised…the lunar rainbow."
"Yeah…" Kouga said with a small smile.
Sango approached Miroku slowly. She could tell that something was bothering him from the set look on his face as he fiddled with the beads on his hand.
Sitting beside him facing the sunset she sighed.
"What is it Miroku?"
"Can't you feel it? The stillness and tension in the air?" he asked. Sango shook her head.
"I can't feel that exactly. But I've noticed that not many birds have been flying overhead. So they must feel it." She told him thoughtfully.
"Something will happen soon. Aren't you afraid"
Sango frowned.
"I am. Afraid for my brother, my friends, for you. I don't want to lose anyone else."
Miroku leaned over and pulled Sango into his embrace.
"I won't leave you Sango."
"I know you won't." she sighed against him.
"Sango…" Miroku said somewhat hesitantly, "When this is over, will you…will you be my wife?"
Sango pushed away to look into his eyes, that were filled with more love and sincerity than she ever thought possible.
"Don't you already know my answer?"
Miroku cringed. "A slap in the face?"
Sango leaned forward a hand on his cheek and kissed him tenderly.
"Yes." She said against his lips. Miroku put his hand over hers on his cheek.
"You're going to slap me?" He question pulling away slightly.
"No, my answer is yes." She smiled and Miroku kissed her again.
"I knew that."
"If something is to happen you must make it happen Kagome," she told herself as she walked through the village.
There was only one place he'd be. That old barren tree was the only place he liked, having to be confined to the village to protect his friends was rough on him.
He was standing there next to the tree leaning on it, facing the sunset away from her. Approaching slowly his ears twitched as she walked around the tree, fingers grazing over the bark softly to stand in front of him. His arms were crossed, but not in his sleeves.
The silence was deafening again as they were once again caught in each other's gaze. Both of them opened their mouth to speak at the same time.
"No. I'm going to talk. Kikyo told me everything and I…I don't want you to go. Don't leave me, don't seal the well…please." He begged his voice sincere as he leaned away from the tree.
Kagome was shocked and confused. Inu Yasha was pleading with her to not do something that she never had any intention of doing.
"Inu Yasha," she breathed.
"Please," he pleaded again, not at all himself. He strode toward her. "I don't care about fate, I can beat fate but if you cant love me as I am…" he looked behind her as the last of the sun disappeared under the horizon.
He changed; his eyes turned violet his hair black. Inu Yasha stepped toward her in his human form, standing close. "I'll stay this way…for you. Is this what you want?"
Kagome shook her head. None of what he was saying made any sense. "Inu Yasha, no that's not what I want. I want you, as you are half demon half human it doesn't matter to me. You matter to me. Why do you think that's what I want?"
Realization hit him hard. "Kikyo said that you were going to take the jewel and seal the well. She said you realized what I was, that you couldn't love me or be with me because we're from different times."
"I don't want you to change Inu Yasha. I'm not leaving." She told him softly reaching up to touch his cheek. He caught her hand.
"After all that happened. I was such a baka. How can you…why do you still…?" he asked unable to finish the question. 'Why do you still love me?'
"I know you'd never hurt me. I trust you with my life Inu Yasha. All the things you've done to protect me. I believe in you."
Inu Yasha laid his forehead against hers and sighed. "What if she's right? What if you and me…what about fate, destiny?" he questioned. Kagome grasped his handed and held them between the two of them.
"We can handle fate, together."
Suddenly Inu Yasha lifted his head and pulled his hands away from hers. Fate. He was connected to her. She would be connected to him.
"Kagome, will you wear these?" he asked nervously, the darkness hiding his blush. He raised the necklace for her to see.
Kagome gasped softly. "Inu Yasha it's beautiful."
Inu Yasha shuffled nervously from foot to foot. "Feh, Kaede said that, my beads connect me to you. Those beads will connect you to me."
Kagome held it up to him. "Will you put them on for me?" she asked him. Inu Yasha nodded, gently lowering them over her head, his fingers delicately brushing over her hair, her face, and her neck. He pulled her hair out from under it and put his arms around her leaning close to whisper in her ear.
"Let's see if they work," he whispered playfully. "Sit,"
So close to him, after so long, his touch, his scent, his arms around her, his mere presence sent her heart hammering. Her knees chose that moment to give away sending her falling into his arms.
Supporting her, Inu Yasha kissed her hard, trying his best to be gentle but all the pent up emotion he'd been holding in was released as he once again found her in his arms after what felt like years apart. It was a deep kiss, of quiet desperation, all the feelings that he never could show, could never say, how much he missed her was communicated through the feel of his lips on hers.
Lost, they clung to eachother desperately as if the other would fall off the face of the earth if they let go or loosened their hold.
Breaking away to breathe Inu Yasha leaned forward to breathe into her ear. "I think I like your beads better."
Kagome giggled against his shoulder, laying her head in his neck. Holding her close Inu Yasha looked up at the high branches of his tree thoughtfully. "Guess we're not sleeping up there."
Kagome giggled again, her laughter music to his ears. He pulled her down into his lap as he sat at the base of the tree. Inu Yasha held her close Kagome leaned against him tilting her head to look up at him.
Inu Yasha plucked at the beads around her neck. "We'll see how you like being collared wench."
Kagome laid her head in the crook of his neck. She reached up above his head to grasp one his ears softly. Her fingers closed on nothing.
Inu Yasha grabbed her hand and brought it to his chest. "Silly bitch, I'm human."
"I should say 'it' for that," Kagome teased trying and failing to sound hurt. She plucked his beads, and grabbed for his ears again. " See just another reason you should stay a half demon."
"Been using me for my ears wench? I knew it, I'll have to use your beads against you." He retorted.
"Baka, there's no spell on these." She laughed softly.
Inu Yasha leaned in close, brushing away the hair in her face with his gentle caress. His lips hovered over hers, her cheeks, and her eyes. Kagome was helpless as Inu Yasha teased her.
One more his lips hovered over hers, deceptively close. As if he knew her better than she knew herself he moved away just as she leaned forward to capture his lips with her own.
Kagome moaned softly. Inu Yasha brought his lips close again. "Isn't there?" He breathed, the movement brushing their lips together ever so slightly. The slight contact made Kagome's heart hammer. Did he know he did this? Made her heart pound so hard it hurt?
"Kiss me," he commanded and Kagome immediately obliged.
"He's right," Kagome thought grinning against his lips between kisses. "I'm under a spell alright." And she leaned forward to deepen the kiss her arm rising to hold him there.
"Savor the taste Inu Yasha," a dark voice called in the dark, causing the two to jerk apart. "Next thing you'll be tasting will be your own blood."
Yes, I killed Kenta...I am prepared to take full responsibility for any belittlings coming my way. In my defence it was not an easy thing to do. Take it out on BetaraiL, she made me do it, I was gonna let him live...she made me kill him.
Sigh Alas, I have been able to give you this chapter. Consider it a present for those of you still suffering from the horrible things we call EXAMS. I have had this chapter done for a while but have been unable to type it up. Also during my absence I have acquired a few things.
Betas. Meet the Beta's known as BetaraiL and Wings of Ash. Be warned ahead though any rude comments, reviews or 'Flames' as it were will be subjected to these two's wrath
This was one of the best chapters I think I've ever written. I love it so much. SO much fluff...mmm fluff.
Two Questions this time
1. Lindsay Lohan or Ashlee Simpson? (Bonus Points if you hate them both!)
2. How old do you think I am?
Until later Folks, wish me luck on my exams!