Kagome's Muse - by Yui
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Author's Note: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed ^__^ It really made my day that I wrote something that you all like. **passes out candy** Well this is the third chapter of the story and Shippo will be in it! He was kinda left out of the last one. -.- Sorry it took me so long to post it. I was sick all last week but I am feeling much better now. So far in the story Kagome's playing that whole thing off like a real actress **cough….maybe not** but Inuyasha and Miroku know what's up (they are so perceptive). Will Inuyasha finally tell Kagome to quit her act? Will Kagome tell Inuyasha that she knows that he knows about the picture? ^.^ Will Miroku have the last word again? XD
~*~*~*~
Part 3
The truth shall set you free!
The night passed painfully slowly for the exasperated Inuyasha. Much as he would have preferred to fall into an oblivious sleep high above the quiet camp in his tree, he found himself wide-awake in the thick darkness, alone and aggrieved. The gloomy forest was still and calm; long before the crickets had turned down to slumber.
Restless, Inuyasha's wary eyes looked down upon the sleeping forms of his companions and easily found of Kagome. He watched her toss and turn in her bedroll, lost in her dreams, her thick black hair spread over the ground like another blanket. For a second his frustration left him and an unusual feeling of peace filled his heart. She looked quite pretty and soft in the glow of the fire although her new scent was assaulting his senses, making him dizzy.
Did she call it mango? Inuyasha didn't know what the hell she had been talking about but it sure was disgusting. It made him want to dunk her in the hot spring. A youkai smelled better than the mango-scented Kagome.
Wrinkling up his sensitive nose in distaste, Inuyasha turned away, settling once more against the tree. But an unexpected sound down below soon caught his attention. His ears twitched at the sound of Kagome's soft voice as she muttered something in her sleep. Curious, Inuyasha leaned over the branch to hear her, his long, silver hair falling forward. Even with his powerful ears, he couldn't determine what she was mumbling about at first but he did hear her talk about a person called Louis. Who was that? That was a weird name. Instantly a mysterious feeling of jealousy overwhelmed Inuyasha and he didn't know why. Was that he boyfriend? Inuyasha frowned. What did he care if she did? Did he even care the Kagome made that stupid piece of crap but was having a dream about another guy?
Silently Inuyasha pulled back and fished out the artwork from his sleeve and stared down at it under the moonlight. He didn't know why he kept it. The thing was rather ugly and stupid. He sighed and gently brushed his fingers across the image. No, it wasn't ugly; it was rather endearing to think that Kagome made something like this. So, did that mean that she liked a hanyou like Inuyasha? Why else would she made such a ridiculous thing? But who was Louis?
Inuyasha scowled, thinking back to the scene at the hot spring. Of course, he had been angry and more than a little humiliated over her creation but he had been hopeful too. He would never admit it but he was slowly becoming more attracted to Kagome everyday. She was kind, sweet, beautiful, and hard to hold on too. He liked Kagome. He liked her a lot. But there had been no trace of love in her dark eyes at the hot spring. He had been hoping that she would admit her feelings to him then and there. Seeing her handwork made him feel sure that she felt the same way about him as he felt for her. Obviously, he had been terribly mistaken. Kagome would never love him when she had a man waiting for her in her own world.
For a moment, his attention moved back to the sleeping girl. She was still talking in her sleep, still carrying on about Louis. Inuyasha couldn't stand it anymore. Kagome was suppose to be his just like the picture showed! His spirit and heart crushed, he stuffed the image back up his sleeve and jumped higher in the tree.
~*~*~*~
"Oh, it's such a great morning!" a chipper Kagome exclaimed as she came back to camp from brushing her teeth. "There aren't any mornings like this in the city! Nope. No way. It's all cramped, and the cars are busy honking, and the skyscrapers are blocking out the horizon. I'm glad that mornings here are so peaceful!"
Inuyasha gritted his teeth in irritation. This was the third time that Kagome said something so damn cheerful. It was very annoying. If he had to listen to her say anything so irritating again, he was going to rip of his ears and stomp on them. And, looking around at his fellow companions, he knew that they were thinking the same thing. Shippo and Miroku both had a deadened look in their eyes, as if they were forcing themselves not to listen to Kagome's voice but failing anyway.
"It was a peaceful morning until you opened your big mouth," Inuyasha threw back in a grumble from a close branch. He couldn't help but feel a little angry over what he discovered last night.
In a state of shock, Kagome spun around to look at him, as did Miroku and Shippo. But Inuyasha pretended to not notice their startled stares as he jumped down from the tree and doused the fire with a pile of dirt. "Don't stand there like morons. Get ready. We're leaving in five minutes."
"Inuyasha…?" Miroku began to question.
"What?" Inuyasha turned to the monk and growled.
"Er…nothing," Miroku replied.
There wasn't much talking as they cleaned the camp and the atmosphere was rigid. Shippo helped Kagome gather her things and pile it all into her gigantic bag. Miroku rolled up the sleeping cover, tied them securely, and held them on his back. They didn't bother eating breakfast either. After a brief confirming from Kagome that they were no shards in the area, Inuyasha started to walk away from camp. In silence, Miroku, Shippo, and Kagome meekly followed.
Kagome was a little surprised and hurt by Inuyasha's unexpected attitude. Why was he acting so mean to everyone? How could her stupid art project make him respond this way? It was unlike him to be so short or so bad-tempered and inconsiderate even if he saw it. Usually he carried her bag because it was so heavy that she could barely manage it on her own. But today Kagome and Miroku were taking turns bearing the load on their backs as Inuyasha walked ahead, not caring if they staggered or fell behind.
By noon, Kagome was sore, tired, and hungry. Glancing at Shippo and Miroku, she could tell that they were feeling the same way. Still no one spoke about where they were going or if they were going to stop for lunch and Inuyasha looked as if he would keep going all day without a break. Kagome was frustrated with his distance and considered, giving him a good 'sit'. But instead she cursed at him in her mind.
And this is the guy that I've fallen for, Kagome thought with a heavy sigh. Great. Mom would be so proud.
"Kagome?" Shippo quietly whispered from the basket on her bike.
"What?"
"I'm hungry."
"Me, too, Shippo-chan."
"Can we stop soon?"
"I don't know," Kagome replied with a shrug. "I don't think Inuyasha's in the mood for a break right now."
Kagome heard Shippo growl. "He's such a jerk today! It makes me what to hit him."
She smiled down at the fox demon. "Maybe you should just rest…oh!" Before she knew it, Kagome had tripped on a large rock in her path and landed hard on his hands and knees, cutting them open on the rough terrain. Her bike crashed into the ground and Shippo tumbled out of the basket, into Miroku.
"Kagome!" Instantly the concern monk was at her side, kneeling down. "Kagome, are you all right?"
"Yeah." Wincing, she struggled to get up despite her heavy load that was weighing her down. Miroku gently pried her backpack off and Kagome was able to sit up and look at her hands. They were covered with dirt and blood and stung so much that tears blurred her vision. "I didn't see where I was going and tripped." She forced a little laugh but there wasn't any amusement on Miroku's face.
"It looks bad."
"Don't worry Miroku," Kagome said as he helped her to her feet. She cringed as she felt blood run down her legs from her knees. "I've got some bandages in my bag. I'll be okay in a minute."
"What they hell happened?" Inuyasha suddenly yelled from up ahead. He was frowning and his hands were resting on his hips in fists.
"Kagome fell, you jerk!" Shippo snapped back.
"What did you call me, brat?" He advanced upon the fox child as if ready to pound him into the ground.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out in warning as he led Kagome to a fallen log. "We need to rest for a bit. Kagome took a serious fall." He turned back and collected the large bag and sat it by Kagome. "Look for your bandages. I'll try to find some herbs for you. Shippo, go collect some wood. We're staying here for lunch too."
"But I want to stay with Kagome, Miroku!"
"Come on, Shippo," the monk turned and looked at the little fox, nodding to the forest. "We need to go."
(wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Shippo's eyes grew wide for a moment. "Oh…okay."
"You aren't going anywhere!" Inuyasha shouted. "We aren't stay here at all!"
"Inuyasha, sit!" Kagome responded. Immediately, the half-demon dived into the dirt path in a flash of red. Miroku smirked as he stood up.
"I won't be long," the monk told Kagome. "Shippo, come on."
In a moment, they two had entered the forest and were gone from sight. Kagome sighed and started to shuffle through her bag carefully. She didn't want to upset her wounds or get anything dirty or bloody. She was aware the Inuyasha was staring at her but she ignored him and continued her search. After awhile she gave up and shoved her bag aside in frustration.
"I think I forgot my first aid kit with Keade-sama," Kagome murmured, looking down at her wounds with teary eyes.
"Why in the world are you crying?" Inuyasha asked, exasperated.
"Because it hurts, baka! And I can't stand the sight of blood!"
She heard Inuyasha heave a heavy sigh. "You are such a wimp. Let me see your wounds, Kagome."
Kagome turned her head and glared at him. "Why?"
Inuyasha sighed again as he stood up and walked over to her. He didn't look angry now. "Just hold them out, all right?" He didn't sound angry either. His voice was very gentle. Surprised, Kagome looked up at him and did as he said without thinking.
Inuyasha grabbed her wrists carefully and knelt down. He inspected the deep cuts on her palm and brought them close to his face, as if he were sniffing the blood. "Don't try to say the s-word, Kagome. I'm not a pervert and Miroku is taking his damn time trying to find the herbs."
"What are you talking about, Inuyasha?"
Instead of answering, he opened his mouth and gingerly lapped at the bloody wounds with his tongue.
"Inuyasha?"
He didn't respond but continued to work. Kagome was too stunned to do anything about it but blush like there was no tomorrow. The open cuts burned a little but she could help thinking that Inuyasha was making it better. It was an awfully strange feeling having Inuyasha's tongue lick her hands. His tongue reminded her of a dog. Go figure. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like kissing him. But Kagome quickly abandoned that thought. Finally, Inuyasha was done and she looked down at her hands. The deep scratches looked clean and were no longer bleeding.
She was about to thank him but before she got the chance, she felt Inuyasha's mouth on her right knee, licking clean the wound. Kagome's stomach did a flip and her mind suddenly went blank.
Oh, God, she thought, feeling her face warm up with a fervent blush. This is so wrong! I just hope the others don't come any time soon. But Inuyasha is being to gentle and it feels… nice. It's different but nice. Oh, I think I'm going to melt!
Kagome closed her eyes, shivering at the chill deep in her belly. But soon Inuyasha was done and she opened her eyes and blushed when she met his gaze.
"Thanks, Inuyasha," she muttered softly.
"Who is Louis?"
"Huh?" Kagome looked up and stared at Inuyasha.
"Louis. Who is he?"
"Louis…" Kagome repeated in puzzlement. "What in the world are you talking about, Inuyasha? I don't know a Louis."
"I heard you last night talking in your sleep," Inuyasha replied soberly. "You were muttering something about a guy called Louis. Who is he, Kagome? Your boyfriend?"
"Nani? I don't have a boyfriend. I….oh," Kagome paused, her eyes opened wide. Then she started to giggle.
Inuyasha frowned, his eyes flattening against his head. "What's so funny?" he asked sharply. He looked insulted.
Kagome continued to laugh and started to look through her bag once more. She pulled out a thick book and began to flip through the numerous pages, until she found what she was looking for. Holding the book up to Inuyasha's face, she pointed to a picture and said, "That is Louis…Louis XVI."
Inuyasha looked horrified. "I know you said he loved perverted men but, God, Kagome, he's so old! And what's with the funny outfit?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "He's died, Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha now looked completely appalled. "I didn't know you had a thing for the dead, Kagome."
Kagome wanted to pull out her hair in frustration. "No, baka! I'm learning about Louise XVI because I have a huge history exam next week! He was a French king who was beheaded in the French Revolution along with his wife! I must have had a dream about him because I was cramming to hard."
For a moment, Inuyasha's face was empty. "So he's not your a boyfriend?"
Kagome shook her head and put her book away. She noticed that Inuyasha was digging through his sleeve and before she knew it, her cheery artwork was right under her nose.
"I found this last night," Inuyasha explained calmly.
Kagome paled, her eyes slowly wandering up to his serious face. "You know, that looks a lot like Miroku's handwriting."
The half-demon rolled his eyes. "I know you did it, Kagome," he replied in a listless voice.
"Hey! What else do you want me to say?" Kagome replied. "I never meant for you to find it! I never meant to bring it into this world. It was for a school project. I had to make a college of things I love…" Kagome stopped, her eyes widening in shock.
Inuyasha started back at her, speechless. They didn't speech and a strained silence filled the air. Kagome was too embarrassed to look Inuyasha in the face and lowered her eyes to the ground. She gasped when she felt Inuyasha's hand cup her glowing cheeks and left her face up to his. They were extremely close now. Slowly Inuyasha leaned forward and placed his mouth against Kagome's, kissing her lips gently. Caught off guard, Kagome was too shocked to respond for a moment. It didn't take her long to relax and she closed her eyes, laying her hands over Inuyasha's.
"Even if you didn't mean to bring it into this world, I'm glad you did," Inuyasha whispered when the kiss was over.
Kagome smiled and blushed. "Me, too."
~*~*~*~
From the near-by foliage, two pairs of eyes observed the kissing couple in secrecy. Finally! Miroku thought in relief as he sat by Shippo. I'd never thought that it would end.
The End
XD