On My Orders

Summary: So he could snap his fingers and get what he wants, right? Well...pretty much, and it was no different with his beloved Kagome...though, she didn't do it because he snapped his fingers and expected it to be done, it was to humor him, because when they were alone...it was nothing like that. He respected her beauty, and her talent, but he refused to let anyone else see that talent. That is...until he over hears a direct challenge to his girl, and watches as she struggles between his orders and her pride...

Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Prince of Tennis

Pairing: Kagome/Keigo

Genre: Romance/Humor

Rated: M for Mature Content

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Kagome stared at the letter sitting on her dresser and frowned.

"Akaya!"

She heard a shuffle from down the hall and listened as footsteps made their way to her door before pausing. "Yes?"

"You can come in," she said, taking the letter in hand as he walked in and looked carefully at her. "This, explain it." She waved it in front of her and watched his eyes follow it for a moment. He didn't say anything but she could guess what happened, "Akaya..."

"I'm sorry, I just...I know how much you love Keigo-Sama. I got it from Mukahi-San, and put it on your dresser while you were taking a shower. I'm sorry."

Shaking her head she walked forward and leaned her forehead on his shoulder, sighing at her predicament. "No, not your fault, it's mine. I shouldn't really be surprised...you like Keigo-Sama too, don't you."

"Ah! N-no! Not like you do!"

Kagome stared in slight surprise at his outcry before shaking her head and laughing at her younger friend. "I wasn't implying that you liked guys, silly. I just meant, you respected him, like I do."

"...when will you and Keigo-Sama get back together, Kagome?"

She shook her head, "I don't know..."

"Why do you have to push him away, to better yourself?"

"I have clung tightly to my brother and Keigo for three years, since I became competitive in Tennis. I realized during that time that Keigo and Mitsu would never see me as real competition, because they saw me as just that...a sister and a girlfriend...I wanted to break away from that image. Understand?"

Akaya nodded and sighed, "Yeah, I understand, but that doesn't mean I like it."

Kagome smiled, "Go to bed, Akaya-Kun. It's late enough, you need sleep."

"Hai, Oyasumi...Kagome-Chan."

"Oyasumi...Otouto..."

She watched him leave with a flushed blush rising to his cheeks as he shut the door behind him and smile sadly to herself as she sat down on her bed and looked at the envelope sealed tightly in her hand. "...Keigo...even if you can't let me go...at least try not to pull me back in."

"...Keigo..." She pulled open the envelope with slightly shaky hands before pulling out the folded piece of thin Italian parchment. "As tasteful as ever..." she thought out loud mildly, her eyes scanning over the neat cursive of the English written letter. She couldn't deny that Keigo had class, he was one of the only guys she knew, fifteen years old, that would write such a well-written correspondence in such finely strung calligraphy.

`Kagome,

For every moment that passes, without a single glance upon which I may see your face, I will patiently await the end of Nationals...I don't see you and I participating against one another in Nationals...However, I do plan to compete against you one way or another, to obtain the rest of my heart which you took with your departure of 'us'. I will get you back, the only way that I can.

Dearest Kagome, read this carefully through, because these words are my heart, my true intentions for you, for me and for us. I will take us back three years, to when you and I first caught one another's eyes. A wager to the game we play. The stakes for loss; if you do...a marriage proposal, for me...you may ask for whatever you wish for in return...but know that my defeat will not come with ease.

Sincerest of Love,

Atobe, Keigo`

Kagome let the paper slip freely from her now loose grip as she stared wildly at the letter, her eyes opened in shock at what the letter had revealed to her. She knew he had cared for her, and she knew she could say the same...but could either of them really call it love?! A few times she'd used the word, yes. However, how did she really feel? She'd even told her mother that she loved Keigo, she told EVERYONE that she loved Keigo...but seeing that letter, those words...marriage? Was she really ready for that? No, surely he was just kidding...Keigo had his whole life ahead of him, he was rich, and popular...he was charming and graceful with a future in Professional Tennis...he wouldn't throw that away for her, would he? No, and she wouldn't let him...she would win, she would beat him, and she would let him have the freedom to live his life without the bindings of Marriage. She knew that right now he might want something so permanent, but she didn't want him to regret it. Besides...he was fifteen...she was fifteen...she couldn't let either of them throw their lives away just yet.

~Mmm!~

Picking up the letter, she folded it and placed it on her wardrobe before following the pained moan from down the hall. Leaving her room, she didn't bother to close her door as she stopped a few doors down and listened.

~Ah...no...~

Knocking softly, she called out, "Akaya, are you okay?"

~Please...no, no...!~

Opening the door to his room, she watched him thrash about in his bed, beads of sweat forming across his brow and his face contorted in fear and pain, pale in color from whatever visions he was seeing. "Akaya~!" She called, running to his bed, she nudged him gently awake and watched him shoot up in his bed, a hand coming to rest on his face as he hid his eyes and closed them tightly. She watched him silently, carefully. As tears began to slip past his fingers, she wrapped her arms caringly around his shoulders and pulled him in for a hug, holding him in a safe embrace as he cried.

"I'm a monster...Kagome...I'm a monster."

She spoke softly as his head fell to her lap and his hands clutched her night clothes in fists. He was shaking dangerously, from anger or fear, she wasn't sure. "Akaya, you are no monster. You are a beautiful and kind boy, with a lot of things running through his head right now...whatever it is, we can work through it together."

He continued to cry but nodded softly into the fabric of her clothes. It was an hour later that both had drifted into a somber sleep. Kagome's fingers never ceased their ministrations through his messy black hair as they soothing ran through his locks to help fight away his turmoil and nervous fears of an unknown monster he was being haunted by.

She wasn't sure what had caused his fear, but she would definitely help him through it.

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Me: Here is chapter 28! Chapter 29 will be posted once I receive another 25 Reviews, and the total is tallied to 650R's

Send Love Through~