A/N: Wow! I'm so happy that there were so many people who liked this story so far! I feel so loved, with my seventeen reviews! Arigatou everyone! I tried to finish this chapter as quickly as possible… This one is filled with major fluff! ^_^ Oh, yes, and before I start, I'm just going to take the time to address one general question that has appeared a lot: Like I said, or at least I think I mentioned before, this will be a romance based on Inuyasha and Kagome! Not Kouga and Kagome! I'm terribly sorry to those of you who requested a Kouga/Kag fic…I've never tried writing one of those before… Maybe I will someday. Anywho, this fic will be Inu/Kag. Sorry to everyone who asked for something different! But I tried to take your advice and work your other comments into this chapter! Okay, well, review responses are at the end of the chapter! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Special recognition goes to Nero, my first reviewer! ^_^ Now, what are you waiting for? Read!
Why Do You Love Me?
~ By Four-eyed Bookworm
Disclaimer: Sorry, don't own anything except a hairtie and a piece of gum… Inuyasha doesn't belong to me, though I wish he did… ::drool:: Ahem. Yeah.
Summary: The quest is over, Naraku is dead, and the Shikon no Tama is whole again. Kagome has decided to stay in the Feudal Era. Kouga is pestering her to become his "woman," and Inuyasha (Oh wonders of wonders) has admitted that he loves her. However, her heart has been broken one too many times to trust and love the hanyou again so easily. So she declares a contest between her two suitors, to determine which one she will choose to stay with. Their challenge will be to answer a simple question: "Why do you love me?"
Rated: PG, only for slight cursing.
*** Last time: The raven-haired young woman took another deep breath, and voiced the question that would determine the rest of her life. "Why do you love me?" She asked softly, looking them both straight in the eye. ***
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~ Chapter 2 ~
~~~ Kouga ~~~
"What?!?!" I shout, bewildered. I check to see if I'm hearing right. Yep, ears are definitely still working. What did Kagome just ask? She answers my question, a bit more firmly than the first time.
"Why do you love me?" She repeats, then explains herself carefully. "Give me a reason, or more than one reason, why you love me. I just want an honest answer."
I'm just a bit stunned at this point… I thought I was going to have to kick Inuyasha's ass or something… Never imagined I'd have to come up with an entire speech on the spot. But on second thought, it should be that hard, right?
All females are like that. Feed them some crap about how they look and how much you love them, and they'll fall for you in two seconds flat. Though…Kagome is kinda different that way. She's been refusing me and pushing me away for nearly four years. Always sticking with dog-turd over there. Never staying with me for more than a day…usually less. It made me so mad, to see her hanging all over that hanyou pup. Though it wasn't her fault. He probably forced her to stay with him until the Shikon no Tama was completed. I caught her staring at him with those sad eyes many a time. I felt bad, but hey, what could I do? She had an obligation, and the inu wouldn't let her wiggle out of it.
So I waited. I knew, I could tell from that sorrowful look in her eyes that appeared more and more frequently these last two years, that she didn't want to stay with him any longer than she absolutely needed to. So I was patient. I courted her, and visited her, and waited until the damn jewel was complete. In a moment of complete idiocy I even decided to help them kill Naraku, in case dog-turd couldn't do it right himself. Even stupider, I gave her my shards of the Shikon.
But what does it matter? In less than an hour, Kagome will be mine. And I won't need the jewel fragments anymore, because I'll have a mate who's powerful enough to more than make up for the missing power of the shards. I can smell the miko power flowing through her blood. It's potent. She'll be a good alpha female for my tribe, and a fitting mother to my sons.
I'm so close now, I can almost smell the scent of victory. Just a few more words. After all, it won't be a hard choice. Inuyasha insults her, I compliment her. Inuyasha hurts her, I help her. He's rude, I'm…well, not rude. I'm not exactly kind either, but it's not my nature to be "kind." Wolf princes can't be "kind," but at least I don't yell and shout at her at every opportunity. Honestly, that pup is so immature, and stupid. How can he still lay a claim to her after all that he's done to her? Does he really expect Kagome to forgive him so easily?
Though my woman does forgive easily. Very…I've seen her just about forgive every single thing that anyone's ever done to her. She's like that. Very childish in some ways, but I admire her for that innocence. The innocence that's been slowly seeping away month by month. She's growing older, and wiser. And it sort of makes me sad, to know that the girl-child who was so carefree and naïve has matured into a woman, burdened with the worries of life. … Well, I suppose I should probably go first. Set an example for the young, and whatnot. Besides, it shouldn't be that hard. She's ready to pick me over that pup already anyway. I'll just give her a little push along in the right direction…
~~~ At the Bone Eater's Well ~~~
Kouga immediately seized the chance to go first. He was about to rush up and grab her hands again, but Kagome had unknowingly moved away from him before he could, walking over to stand next to Sango and Miroku. So instead, the wolf youkai turned to face them as well. He grinned widely, anticipating the attentive audience.
"Well then, here goes! Kagome, I love you because you're strong. You're a miko with lots of power, and you can shoot arrows that kill demons, and purify them. You can see the Shikon shards, and you'd be very useful to me when you become my woman. My tribe would respect you for being strong, and they would listen to you and follow you, as my mate."
A barely perceptible growl rose out of Inuyasha at this point, but Kouga chose to ignore it, and continued speaking. "You're also very feisty and spirited, and I love you for that. I like women who can stand up for themselves, and aren't boneless, groveling fools."
Inuyasha's thoughts had drifted off. As Kouga listed reason after reason for why he loved Kagome, ("You're energetic, and kind, and cheerful, and…") the hanyou cursed himself for not going first.
Damn! What am I going to say? That wimpy wolf has already taken all of my reasons! He's stealing my ideas! What will I tell her? I can't say that she's pretty, 'cause that's just too clique… But, I…do love the way she flips her bangs back from her forehead when they get in her face… I…love the way her lips quirk upwards ever so slightly when she's sleeping. I love the way she…tilts her head to the side when she's looking at me when asking a question. …I love the way her eyes darken and flash at me when she's angry. I love the feel of her fingers when they brush against mine. I love the smell of her hair when she's just taken a bath… Actually, I love her scent no matter what, even when she's covered in dust and grime and sweat. I love the way she brushes the wrinkles out of her uniform after riding on my back, even though it isn't messed up at all. …No, dammit! None of this is going to work! And I can't say it in front of everyone, especially not Kouga! Kami, why does this have to be so hard?
Kouga's voice droned onwards as Inuyasha wracked his brains for something that would be acceptable to say aloud. "And I also love you, Kagome, because you're really smart, and witty, and caring, and…"
I can't believe this. Why is it so hard for me to tell her why I love her? There are so many things I can say, and none of them seems to fit! I can't tell her anything… And yet, every time I see her smile, my heart beats faster…I love hearing her voice when she's singing at night, when she thinks that no one else is listening… I love her for caring about me, for calling my name in that tone…whenever I get hurt. After every fight, no matter how small the wound, she always rushes to my side to treat it. I get a warm feeling inside my chest when she cries for me, while at the same time, I can't stand the fact that she's sad. But I love it when she laughs. Her voice…is so…beautiful…She's like an angel…I love watching her sleep at night. Sometimes I even stay up all night to watch Kagome sleep. I also love watching the way her fingers move when she's sleeping. They're so…entrancing…
And I love her for always being there for me, for understanding me, for putting up with me. She's always knows what I'm thinking, and how to make me feel better. She's taught me to accept myself, and to accept all my flaws as part of who I am, just as she does. She's healed my heart, given me a chance at a new life. A life that I can't live without her…
"And I love you because you're dedicated, and responsible, and sympathetic. Kagome, I'll make sure that I take good care of you if become my woman. You'll be much happier with me than if you lived with dug-turd over there. And I'll made sure that my pack listens to you and obeys you and respects you, which they already do anyway since you're so nice and strong and pretty, and, yeah… that's why I love you." Kouga finally finished his incredibly long, drawn-out, and repetitive list of reasons, and stepped back with a smug smirk on his face. He'd already covered every single reason he could think of, so there was no way Inuyasha could beat that.
In the meanwhile, the poor hanyou was still thinking of reasons why he loved Kagome. He hadn't heard a single word that Kouga said, and had barely registered the fact the speech was finished. So, when Kagome smiled at Kouga, then turned to him, he didn't even notice that it was his turn.
And, gods, I love her for just being– "Inuyasha?" He was interrupted from his thoughts by a pleasant, yet hesitant voice.
"Huh?" Was his oh-so-intelligent answer.
Kagome said patiently, albeit a bit nervously, "It's your turn, Inuyasha, if you want…"
"Oh." Yes, the young lady's beauty had apparently stunned him into forgetting his vocabulary…
Then, all of a sudden, he realized what she was asking. Fuck! It's my turn already? I haven't even decided what to say? Ack! What am I going to do? What should I say? What if–
Miroku nudged the hanyou discreetly in the ribs. "Well, Inuyasha?" He promptly delicately, "Tell Kagome-sama why you love her."
Inuyasha's head rose to look at them all. His eyes met Kagome's gaze, and his mind went completely, utterly, totally blank. BLANK. He couldn't remember a single thing of what he had planned on saying. All he could do was stand there, still as a statue, and lose himself in her depthless sapphire orbs. Kouga suppressed a triumphant smile. This was way too easy.
Inuyasha looked down at the grass and took a deep breath, knowing that he'd have to say something, or else die trying. What could he say? Kouga had taken all the obvious reasons already, and all the ones he wanted to tell her were too trivial… He could only tell her the truth. "I…uh…I love you, because…you're…you're Kagome…I love you for…everything that you are. Just because…you are who you are. You're Kagome." The last two words had trailed off to a whisper. There was a tone of finality to them, and when Inuyasha looked at up her once more, his amber eyes glimmered with the truth.
He saw the shocked look on Kagome's face, and interpreted it. I…lost. She thinks that I don't love her…or that Kouga loves her more…I couldn't tell her anything else… What I said, was the truth, and I couldn't think of anything else to say! I've lost her forever…she must be so disappointed.
He raised his silver head and said softly, voice thick and husky with sorrow, "I'm…s-sorry, Kagome…for not being able to come up with a better reason." It was the only reason I had…
She didn't reply. His frame went slack. So this was it. His only chance at happiness, lost. Well, he deserved it, for saying something stupid like that. His ears drooped forward. Kagome would never choose him now, not after his unbelievably insufficient reason. Why hadn't he just made something up, instead of speaking the only thing that had been on his mind at that point?
The hanyou turned slowly, steps heavy with anguish. I hope…that you and Kouga will be happy, Kagome. I…I'm sorry for not, not being able to offer you any more…
As he slowly walked away, preparing to leave his love's sight forever, Kagome could only stare unblinking at the retreating figure in red. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, and it wasn't until the forlorn hanyou had almost left the clearing that she shook herself out of her stunned silence.
"Wait! Inuyasha!!" She cried out. He turned back to her, dreading the look on her face. Kagome ran desperately towards him until she stumbled to a stop two feet away from him. She lifted her eyes towards him. They shone with glistening, unshed tears. In a trembling voice, she asked, keeping her gaze on his face, for some hope, some sign, "Inuyasha…were you, t-telling the truth? Was that…the absolute truth?"
His heart broke in half. He had sworn never to hurt her again, he had sworn to protect her, to never ever let her cry again, and here she was, about to cry, because of what he'd just said. Inuyasha wished with all his being that he could just envelope her in a warm, comforting embrace and tell her no. No, that it wasn't the truth, that he had been lying. That he loved her because she was beautiful and strong and… But those were true too. Couldn't he lie? Tell her that he hadn't meant it? Soothe her and hug her and tell her whatever she wanted to hear, to prove that he loved her?
"I…" he began. Her eyes pleaded with his. He wanted to say no. He opened his mouth, and replied, "I- Yes… I was, I was telling the truth. The reason I love you is because you are Kagome. I love you…for who you are."
The dam broke, and tears began to run silently down her cheeks. His soft golden eyes shimmered. "I'm sorry, Kagome. It's the best reason I could come up with for why I love y-"
He was cut off when the girl from the future flung herself at him. She choked out, "Oh, Inuyasha!" before her voice was swallowed by sobs. Her arms squeezed him so hard around the waist that they could have cracked a rib, yet he savored the feel of her body pressed up against him for the last time. He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Kagome. I never meant to make you cry. I love you…I'm sorry." He murmured, hesitantly stroking the top of her head as his other hand rubbed small circles into his back. Kagome probably couldn't even hear him, because she was sobbing so loudly, her body shaking so hard that he felt the tremors wrack his own frame.
"Oh, gods…" She cried, her face buried against his shirt. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, heart twisting in pain as if a knife as just been stabbed through his chest.
"I'm sorry…" He repeated again, burying his nose in her black hair. He continued whispering nonsensical phrases into her ear, hoping that she would stop crying. He looked up, his own eyes dull with pain and grief. Sango and Miroku were still standing back at the well, giving them their privacy for a last farewell. They had even managed to prevent Kouga from coming between the hugging pair, forcing him to keep his distance with his back turned.
Eventually, Kagome calmed down enough to speak, though she was still gasping with each quivering breath. Her voice was muffled against his haori. "Inuyasha…I'm, I'm so…"
He squeezed her tighter, hoping that this moment would last forever, that she'd never pull away, never leave.
"I'm so happy…" She said, lifting her tear-stained face up to smile at him.
"I'm sor-" He said, about to apologize again, grief dulling his reflexes. It wasn't until he looked down at her joyful expression that what she had said registered in his mind. "What?!? What did you just say?"
"I'm happy, Inuyasha. I'm incredibly happy that you love me."
"But, I-I, you…wha-" was all he could stammer out, in his utter confusion.
"I've always wondered if anyone could love me for just being me. All my life I wanted to be loved for who I was, not what I could do. I thought you would only want me because of what I could offer, but you…love me for myself. Your acceptance proves your love, and I know now, that you love me, not Kikyou. You said so yourself. I've always loved you, you know, Inuyasha. But I…just, I wasn't sure whether you were using me as a replacement for Kik-"
"Never say that, Kagome." Inuyasha whispered fiercely, pulling her against him for another tight hug. "Never doubt my love for you. I've given up Kikyou. The last time…when I told her that, it was only to try and get her to come back, so I could say goodbye. I don't love her anymore, Kagome. I don't know if I ever did. The only feelings I hold for the shell of dirt and earth that now wanders the earth are guilt, mistrust, regret… I love you with all my heart, because of who you are. Not because you're Kikyou. Because you are you. Kagome. And, I've…never been much good at words, but, if you could ever forgive me for everything I've done, I'd be happy to spend the rest of my life with you, to earn back your trust, in spite of all the hurt that I've caused you."
"Oh gods, Inuyasha," Kagome whispered, "I'm so happy…I had hoped beyond all hopes that you could love me the way I loved you. I think…inside, I knew that you did, but I just didn't want to admit it, because… I was afraid."
A flash of a long cherished memory crossed her mind. Years ago, they had been in the same position, but it had been Inuyasha who had spoken those words. She continued, sniffing, "I was afraid…afraid that I would be cast aside again. Afraid you would choose Kikyou if she came back. Afraid that my heart would be broken once more. All…all I ever needed was your love, Inuyasha. And when you gave it to Kikyou, my heart broke, and I was afraid to let you break it again. That's the only reason I made this contest. To have some proof that you loved me. To have something to remember you by if you ever left me again. The truth is, I wanted so badly to love you back. I would have thrown myself at you if only I could…but now, I'm so glad that I know the truth. I forgive you, Inuyasha. I had already forgiven you anyway."
She looked up at him, smiling with such dazzling brilliance that Inuyasha's heart leapt with joy. He used a thumb to trace the tears that bedewed her moist cheek. He wiped them away gently, and uttered fervently, "I'll never leave your side again. Ever. And I promise that you'll never cry in sorrow again, Kagome. Not if I can help it."
He drew her slender body back against him, hardly believing his good fortune. If this is all a dream, Kami-sama, please don't let me wake up again…He thought, reassuring himself of his love's presence by squeezing her tightly. She reciprocated the hug with equal fervor, smiling through her tears, now of joy.
"I love you, Kagome." He said roughly, his own voice breaking emotionally as he spoke.
"I love you too, Inuyasha. I love you so much…" She answered, gently playing with the strands of silver hair along his back.
A/N: Now, everyone all together now, say "Awww….." on the count of three! ^_^ So, was that waffy enough for you? Tear-jerking? ::giggles:: Well, I certainly hope you all enjoyed this segment of WDYLM… Have no fear, however, there are about two more chapters left of this story. I would have written more, but I thought this would be a good place to end. Well, what did you think? Too sappy? Too dramatic? Not dramatic enough? ^_~ Did anyone think any of the characters were OOC? Let me know, please! I welcome comments and suggestions! Leave a review if you wish!
Review Responses:
Nero ~ Well, I guess this is a bit of a cliffhanger too! I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as possible. Thanks for reviewing!
Wakkas Women ~ Yeah…this was pretty much just a sudden idea of mine… Eek! Please don't hurt me! I updated! ^-^ j/k
Kagome Yuki ~ Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it! Hey, aren't we all crazy for Inuyasha? ::wink:: You were so encouraging in your review! Please keep reading!
AnimeGirljd13 ~ Of course Kagome will pick Inuyasha! They're my favorite couple after all! I wouldn't dare write an alternate pairing without everyone's consent…
Nanaka ~ I'm sorry! I know there are lots of people who wanted me to write Kouga/Kag, but I'm a hard-core Inu/Kag fan… I apologize for letting Kagome choose Inuyasha, but that was my original plan anyway… Either way, I tried to write part of it from Kouga's POV, like you asked. Hope you enjoyed it! Review with comments, please!
binx ~ Thank you! I'll try to update soon!
Paws ~ Always here to please! ::bows grandly:: So, do Kouga's answers fit your idea of idotic? I tried enforce the point that he only wants her for what she can offer…so the responses to Kagome's question weren't as humorous as I would have liked them to be, but oh well. Anyway, hope you liked it! Thanks for reviewing, and keep reading!
Yunaleska ~ Yep! I totally agree! ::waves around a little flag:: Kagome and Inuyasha forever!!! Yay!!! And of course, what better way to put them together than with a healthy dose of angst and sap? ^_^
Miss Coolio ~ :D Did you click the review button more than once by mistake? If not, thanks so much anyway for the multiple reviews! And you're right, it's probably not possible for her to look them both in the eye at the same time… Thanks for catching and pointing that out to me! Ja!
Laura ~ Awww…Was it really that sad? Well, I hope this chapter makes up for it and makes you happy! Though I have to admit that I like reading angsty Inu fanfics once in a while, just so I can cry my eyes out… :) Of course Inu-chan will win! How could you ever doubt that? Inu/Kag are my favorite character pairing! I would never let him lose to Kouga! Don't listen to the evil voice! Inuyasha would never get squished! (Unless it was me with a plushie Inu…) Oh, and I luv almond kisses too!
Jonathan ~ Thanks for the support! And yes, of course, Inuyasha will end up with Kagome! ^_^ Yay! And they lived happily ever after… ::Sweatdrops:: Uh…or not really…
Bug ~ You posed a very convincing argument, and I agree that there aren't that many Kouga/Kagome fics out there, but I'm still firstly a Kag/Inu fan, second a fanfic writer… I'm sorry! And Inuyasha isn't "still hung up over Kikyou." He feels guilty about her death, but he doesn't love her anymore… I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but Inu/Kag are my favorite couple, and I couldn't bring myself to write an alternate pairing ficcy… Gomen nasai! ::bows profusely:: But anyway, you do have a point there about immortality. Thanks for bringing that up, I'll remedy that in the next chapter, and she'll be wishing for something different.
Angel-Girl-1103 ~ Sorry about the cliffhanger! I seem to have a knack for leaving readers hanging at crucial moments…like this chapter… ^ ^, Eh-heh-heh…sorry about that! But I hope I made it up to you by putting lots of fluffiness in this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
ChineseKyootie ~ Eeep! Hope you haven't already forgotten what this story is about! Do you still remember it? ^_^ Well, I updated as soon as I could!
Iya-chan ~ Next chapter, coming right up!
