A/N: I'm SSSOOOO sorry about the long wait!! I really didn't mean for it to take that long, but life (mostly school) got hectic and, well…alright I won't tell you my life story right now.
Onto more important stuff, I didn't know Inuyasha's father's name, and I have had some people think that it was Inutashio, so if you know what it is, PLEASE tell me!! And a warning, Sesshomaru's a little OOC in this, but I'm trying to make him in character.
CHAPTER 10: Sesshomaru's Confusion
Kagome and Sango plopped down onto one of the cushioned deep-pink seats and sighed, Sango placing an arm on Kagome's shoulder.
"Dad?" Inuyasha asked when a tall man with long, white hair identical to his walked in and looked at him. He was a little pale in the face, but had a certain elegance to him. His eyes held warmth in them as he gazed upon them with a dignified look. Kagome could tell that they were definitely father and son.
"Inuyasha, are these you're friends?" He asked in a soft, gentle voice, eyeing Kagome until she shifted uncomfortably.
"They know," Inuyasha blurted out suddenly. He winced when his father came up to him and ruffled his hair a bit, expecting a long lecture and maybe a hit. "I'm sorry father…I didn't mean for them to find out about the hanyou thing..."
"Oh Inuyasha, forget about what your brother says about humans…"
Just then, another tall male, that held more resemblance to the father in physical appearance than Inuyasha, walked in.
"Sesshomaru??? What are you doing here??" Inuyasha gasped when his half-brother arrived at the door with a scowl on his feminine-featured face. Sesshomaru leaned against the door frame, an impassive air about him. He examined his brother with a quick eye, and then walked towards him with long, quick strides.
"Look at you…" he said, slightly with distaste.
Inuyasha flinched. He and his brother never had a close-knit relationship before, and everything that he did Sesshomaru never seemed to approve. All Inuyasha ever wanted was to make his brother proud of him, and to please him. He wanted Sesshomaru to be able to say 'that's my brother' with pride. Inuyasha's one weakness.
"It's not what you think…" Inuyasha began, but trailed off when Sesshomaru held up his hand to silence him.
"I think it is. Tell me, dear brother, did you save this girl?" he asked knowingly, sending a quick glance at Kagome. Inuyasha, noticing this, somberly nodded. "I see…" Sesshomaru had always disapproved of humans, quite unlike his father. In fact, even though he, himself, was a full-fledged demon just like his father, Inuyasha was half-demon because his mother was a human and they had different mothers.
Kagome was baffled, and her face showed it.
'Why does he talk like it's a bad thing?'
"Let's go out to the car and we'll talk about this then, okay?" the hanyou's father said, noticing his sons' bleak faces. Sesshomaru led the way out the door without a glance back, followed by his father. Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, and then Kagome trailed behind them.
Kagome Higurashi watched as Inuyasha limped out, without the help of his brother or father. She didn't understand why they weren't helping him, but kept this comment to herself.
When Inuyasha nearly fell a couple of times, she was about to go over to him and help by giving him her shoulder for support, but Miroku was there first. Sango tapped Kagome on the shoulder and Kagome stopped walking to turn to her, greeting her with a perplexed expression.
"What's wrong, Kagome?" Sango asked, noting the confusion turning to gloom. "Do you feel okay?" Kagome nodded half-heartedly.
"It's just that I have a lot to think about," Kagome assured her, turning away so that she wouldn't start crying…she didn't even know exactly why she wanted to cry. It was as if only her unconsciousness knew exactly.
'Maybe it's because of Tokuno…after all we've gone through…'
But Kagome shook that thought from her head.
'No, he's gone…the whole thing's over…maybe it's tears of joy because he's gone. That's GOT to be it'
"We better hurry up or they might leave us behind." Kagome forced a weak smile, pushing ahead of Sango.
Soon they had reached the car, and Sango and Kagome gasped.
"That's your car??" Sango choked out. Miroku grinned at her. "WOW!!! How'd you get this?" She jumped towards it and starting stroking the fine red-paint job. "These don't come out until next spring!!" Kagome pulled her away from the car, half amused, half embarrassed. "You must be RICH to get one of these…"
"It's not polite to say that, Sango," Kagome said even though she was curious herself. Inuyasha didn't look rich. He wore normal clothes all the time at school, and never mentioned anything about his money like all the other rich snobs did.
Sango bowed with a quick 'I'm sorry'. Inuyasha gave a weak laugh as Miroku helped him into the back of the convertible.
"It's alright," Inuyasha replied, but his brother looked slightly annoyed. Sango climbed in after helping Kagome beside Inuyasha.
"What kind of car is this?" Kagome asked, looking over at Inuyasha. When he turned to her, he noticed that she no longer had that hatred and disgust in her eyes when she looked at him…almost the opposite of what he thought she would think when she found out he was a hanyou.
'But she knew Shippo was a demon…'
"It's a-" he was cut off.
"BMW M3 Convertible!!" Sango exclaimed excitedly, blushing a bright red after her outburst. To give her injured friends room in the back of the car, the three-seat back, Sango had hesitantly agreed to sit on Miroku's lap for the ride home, after making him promise no perverted thoughts or actions.
"This is one of the greatest BMWs in history. It gets the same 333-hp straight six as the M3 coupe, and has an acceleration of 0 to 60 in five seconds. This car goes on sale this spring…" The father added, with a gracious smirk.
"Then how'd you get it if it's not yet available?" Kagome asked while wincing from the pain she felt, trying to join the conversation as well as trying not to concentrate on being so close to Inuyasha. She glanced at him, but turned back with flushed cheeks when he caught her looking.
"A friend of mine was the one who designed it and I asked him if he would reserve me one. After doing him a big favor, he gave me the first one that came out." They pulled out of the parking lot after putting up the top of the car, and onto the nearby highway without a second thought.
"Kagome? What's wrong? Are you okay??" Sango asked anxiously when she noticed that her head began to bobble up and down tiredly, and her eyes began to droop a little. She reached over Inuyasha (who sat between them) and felt her forehead. "She feels warm! She lost a bit of blood before, and she might not have regained all her strength! Though she definitely didn't loose as much as you, Inuyasha." Inuyasha placed his hand on Kagome's forehead as well and gasped at how warm it was.
"Is she alright?"
"I think she fainted!" Inuyasha pulled her in his lap as he scooted over in her seat, holding her like you would a baby. He started to tap her cheek lightly, but she didn't respond.
"Kagome!!" a little head popped out of Kagome's bag. "Kagome wake up!!" Shippo had over hear their conversations, and was worried about his friend.
"Shippo, you're not helping!" Inuyasha yelled at the little fox youkai, but he ignored him. His father was about to ask him about the fox, but decided against it for the time being. He pulled over to the side of the road and peered worryingly into the back of the convertible. Sesshomaru only glanced back once, but did nothing to help them. He wasn't about to help a human girl...
"Here's some water!" Shippo reached into the bag and pulled out a half-empty bottle of water. Inuyasha hastily seized it from him and kindly made Kagome drink some by tapping her chin lightly. Then he poured some in his cupped hand and dripped it lightly on her face, trying to cool it down a little.
They waited awhile for an effect, and they were rewarded for their patience when Kagome began to blink.
"Kagome!" Shippo said happily, jumping onto her lap and giving her a big hug. She laid her head tiredly against Inuyasha's shoulder, before rolling it off of it and onto the seat cushions. She tried to sit up straight, but a strong arm held her back.
"You need to rest for awhile. You're human, remember?" Inuyasha smirked and got a feeble smile in return. He laid her head on his lap and removed the hair wandering into Kagome's pretty eyes…
"Does that mean you admit it…that you're a hanyou?" her speech was slurred, but Inuyasha was able to understand her. He nodded grimly with a glimpse from his brother. Their dad pulled back onto the highway after everyone settled back down.
"Yeah, I am half-demon," Inuyasha admitted, gazing at his brother, and Sesshomaru snorted softly and looked out the window. Inuyasha let out a small sigh before giving Kagome his full attention.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome murmured as she fell into a dreamy sleep. Sango cast a smile at her friend. Unknowingly, Miroku had placed his arm around her waist…until
*SLAP*
"PERVERT!!!" shrieked Sango, waking Kagome. Her head was still in Inuyasha's lap, and her head had somehow turned so that her face was in his strong stomach.
Sango glared at Miroku's roaming hands, but really felt miserable underneath her fake hatred. A tear streamed down her cheek and she turned away from him to look out the window.
How she wanted to be in his strong, warm embrace, but that fantasy could never be because he didn't really love her. It was as simple as that…at least in her mind.
Miroku watched on as Sango turned from him, spotting a gleam of light shimmer from her cheek. Was she crying again? He couldn't tell. He had always felt very attracted to Sango, and for once, his attraction wasn't only because of looks, but because of personality as well. Not a single girl besides her in the entire school had turned around and slapped him before…well, not like Sango at least. She was so cute when she was angry…
The rest of the car ride consisted of silence, for the four teens and the little kitsune had fallen asleep...besides Sesshomaru and Inutashio (A/N: I don't know if that's Inuyasha's father's name or not, but if you know, please tell me!), that is.
"Sesshomaru, what makes you hold the hatred you have for these humans?" Inutashio asked, almost solemnly. Sesshomaru looked taken aback.
"Father, they are impure and inferior to us! I can't believe you left my FULL demon mother for that wench of a human girl…" he said in a quiet, infuriated voice. "Humans aren't worthy of us, and they treat us like shit!!" Sesshomaru slammed his fist on the side of his door. All the anger about how the humans treated them had been bursting inside of him, wanting out, but Sesshomaru kept it all in. He refused to act like the humans would in their desperation. "You just don't get it, do you???"
Inutashio sighed, and said, never taking his eyes off the road, "It is YOU that don't understand, Sesshomaru. Look back at Inuyasha. Tell me, what do you see?" Confused by his father's strange request, he looked back at his brother.
"I see a half-breed…a hanyou…" he answered hotly. Unbeknownst to the two in the front seat, Inuyasha and Kagome were listening to their conversation. Kagome felt Inuyasha flinch beneath her.
'Poor Inuyasha, he must be awake as well…and no wonder he acts the way he does. I wouldn't be able to stand it if Souta didn't love me…'
"Look beyond that. What do you see him doing?" the father tried again.
"I see him holding the human girl…"
Kagome finally realized that Inuyasha had his hands wrapped loosely around her, one laying on her back, the other wrapping around to her backside. She felt Inuyasha release her slowly so his brother wouldn't know.
"And tell me, son, tell me why the girl isn't slapping him away or screaming for him to get away because he's a hanyou…even worse than a youkai, as you say…" Sesshomaru couldn't come up with an answer for this, so he just snorted and turned away.
Inutashio knew he got his oldest son thinking about the conversation.
"I know all humans don't treat us right, and there are few demons left in this world because of humans, but you need to learn how to love. You can't with all the hatred you hold in your heart for these humans that have done nothing to you."
'Sesshomaru, you'll understand one day…Just look at Kagome and Sango…and even Miroku! They treat him like he's one of them. Like a real person. Look passed most of humanity's faults and search for the ones that don't care what you are, Sesshomaru.'
Sesshomaru thought about what he just said. He had never thought of it that way before…
'Wait! What am I thinking?? Humans are still inferior to us!! I will not see them as my equal!'
Pulling a loose strand of hair out of his eyes, he peered out the window again. His thoughts were going everywhere, though. Sesshomaru had always wanted love, but not with the second-rate human beings that littered the vast world…but this girl, Kagome, his father said, was different somehow, now that he took a second look at her. Not only was she one of the most beautiful girls he had seen, with her long, silky, jet-black hair, but her eyes had held a kindness to them that he took note of when he first saw her. Sesshomaru felt his heart pounding in his chest, for probably the first time ever.
Sesshomaru decided, he would get to know this girl, the best of the humans he had seen yet, and judge them all by her. Since she was the kindest human he had met, he believed that it was alright to do that.
Inutashio pulled into a large, long driveway leading up to a very fancy door. The house was three stories high plus the basement and the attic. When the car came to a halt, Inutashio reached back and gently shook his son awake.
"Inuyasha, we're home." Inuyasha, being already awake, pretended to have been asleep. He rubbed his eyes then punched Miroku awake.
"Miroku, we're back. We have an extra bedroom up on-"
"The third floor, I know, I know…I think I've been to your house enough times to know it by now," Miroku whispered tiredly. Yawning, he cradled Sango into his arms and carefully got out of the car.
Kagome didn't want to get up. She liked it just where she was, smelling Inuyasha's sweet scent and comfortable. Unfortunately, Inuyasha hadn't felt the same way because he pulled Kagome off his lap and got out of the car. Just when she thought that he was going to leave her, he picked her up and onto his back.
"Inuyasha," called out Sesshomaru. "Let me take her. I-"
"What?? You might drop her!!"
"Let me take the girl, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said in a stern, yet whispered voice. "I want to talk to her…alone." Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder to Kagome, then back to his brother.
"She needs her res-"
"I'll take her up to the room then. Just let me talk to her alone."
"But-"
"INUYASHA!!" he winced from the tone of his voice. Inuyasha tenderly set Kagome back onto the car seat.
"Alright, but she's not like all the other humans, Sesshomaru. She won't treat you like the othe-"
"Go," commanded Sesshomaru. "I'll take care of her." With that, he picked up Kagome, bridal style, and leaped up to the door, leaving Inuyasha (who had to get Shippo still) gaping after him. He swung the door open to its fullest then bounded up two flights of stairs and walked calmly down the brightly lit hallway until he reached an empty room except for a queen-sized bed with light pink sheets draped over the windows.
Sesshomaru set Kagome down on the bed carefully, sitting down beside her.
"Girl," he said gently, not like Inuyasha said it…and she sort of liked it. Kagome pretended to stir a little, and then stretched out before him and rubbed her eyes. "Hey. Do you feel alright?"
"Uh, yeah…but where are we?" Kagome opened her eyes for the first time since they 'fell asleep'. It was a fairly large room with a light pink coat of paint on the walls.
"You're at my house…would you like a glass of water?" he said, almost nervously. He had never talked to a girl like this before.
"Uh-" Kagome began, but he already set off to get her some. She sat up and waited for him to return. "Thank you," she whispered when he handed it to her. After taking a sip, she set it comfortably in her lap.
"I have a question," he began, looking her in the eyes. "What do you think of youkais, girl?"
"My name's Kagome," she said softly. "And I guess they're just like regular people…they have feelings, flesh, and hearts, just like everyone else…may I ask why you're asking me this?" Sesshomaru didn't say anything, but just kept staring at her. Kagome began to think that she shouldn't have asked that.
'Poor Sesshomaru. He and Inuyasha must have been treated so cruelly. I wish I could help him.'
"Would you like to go get some lunch after you regain some of your strength back? Just me and you. I would like to get to know you better because you're the first human I've seen sincerity in their eyes." Kagome could only nod.
"Alright…but my mom and brother are probably worried sick about me, and I'm sure they-"
"Don't worry about it. My father's going to call them, and we'll stop by your house on the way. Now get some rest." Sesshomaru took the glass from her and placed it on the end table. Kagome smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
"No problem…" and he left her to rest. As soon as he closed the door, he was met face to face with Inuyasha.
"What the hell do you think you're doing??? Why are you taking her out to lunch today-'alone'?? Sesshomaru, I swear if you harm one strand of hair on her head, I'll-"
"Do you love her?" Sesshomaru butted in, asking bluntly. Inuyasha nearly fell back from the shock of the question.
"Wh-what??" he growled. "That wench?? Of course not!!"
"Good, because I think I'd like to get to know her better. She's different than all the other filthy, retched inhabitants of this world." And with that, he calmly walked down to the living room on the first floor. As he did so, Miroku stepped out of the room next to Kagome's.
"Sango's sleeping like a baby. She's exhausted, and frankly, so am I. Are your wounds healed yet? Almost maybe? That was a pretty nasty fall you took, but because you're a hanyou-"
"I know…"
"What's wrong?" Miroku question when he saw a confused/angry expression on his best friend. "Is Kagome alright?"
"She's fine. Apparently fine enough to accept Sesshomaru's invitation to lunch this afternoon," sneered Inuyasha, scowling for all he was worth.
"Sesshomaru? Ask a girl to lunch?? Wow…that's new. Why'd he do that?" said Miroku, looking thoughtful. He didn't understand why Inuyasha was so upset about it until—
"He asked Kagome to go to lunch with him alone, without me."
"Oh…" Miroku mouthed, finally letting it sink in.
"Why would he do that? He hates humans…"
"Well apparently my father talked some sense into him. Just a second ago he told me 'I think I'd like to get to know her better'." A phrase Inuyasha did not want to hear. "What if he actually…starts liking her?"
"I don't think that's your problem, Inuyasha. I think it's more like 'what if she starts liking him?" Miroku said seriously. "You need to make your move if you want Kagome, because she's a great girl. You know as well as I do that with Sesshomaru taking the time to get to know her, he'll like her just as much as us."
"I…I don't care about that stupid wench! As I said before, she can go to hell for all I care!!!!" Inuyasha bounded down the stairs and out the front door. He was going to go to the creek, a creek that has been 'his' secret place that not even Miroku knew he went.
Inuyasha felt…betrayed. It wasn't the first time in his life either. How could Kagome just accept to go with her brother to lunch?? Without asking him, the one who saved her from certain death?? He had been the one that risked his life to save hers, and she just leaves him??
Inuyasha scowled again as he reached the creek. Plopping down beside the semi-deep and large stream, he crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes, deep in thought.
'Fine, if Kagome would rather be with Sesshomaru, I'm not going to care!! She's not worth it anymore. Besides, I have Kikyo…'
He felt a pang in his heart as he said this, but ignored it.
'It was stupid to think that she'd return my feelings…she'd never love me.'
Inuyasha laid back onto the grass in the wooded area, falling fast asleep. A dream came to him then.
~DREAM~
"Kagome? Where are you??" Inuyasha screamed out, searching frantically for her. His heart was pounding as darkness fell over the forest, and the castle appeared.
"INUYASHA!!! HELP ME!!!" Inuyasha followed the voice as best as he could. For some reason, he couldn't pick up her scent at all.
"I'm coming Kagome!!" He leaped onto a large tree and climbed it to the very top. The castle had disappeared along with Kagome's voice. Now he could hear running water, and a waterfall. "KAGOME?? Where are you?"
Inuyasha followed the sound of the water, hoping and praying that it would lead him to Kagome. When he reached the top of the waterfall, Kagome was being held by Tokuno again.
"Tokuno…" Inuyasha growled. "Let her go!!!"
Suddenly, Sesshomaru stepped out of the darkness and stood by the edge, and as if in slow motion, Tokuno's evil grin plastered on his face, he pushed him over. Then he had somehow grabbed Inuyasha, and threw him over a few yards from where Sesshomaru had been pushed.
"Now chose which one you want…" was the last thing he heard from Tokuno.
'He must be talking to Kagome…don't jump after me, Kagome. Stay up there, safe. I want you to live…I…I love you…'
Kagome appeared at the end of the rock. She was about to jump off with no second thoughts.
"NO KAGOME!!! Stay up there!! Don't come after me!! I love you too much for you to die or get hurt for me!!"
Kagome jumped…but not towards him, but his older brother instead.
"Kagome," Inuyasha breathed as hurt and sorrow filled his features. Watching as Kagome reached Sesshomaru and enveloped him in a hug.
"I love you," she mouthed to Sesshomaru. Inuyasha continued to fall until everything went black.
~END DREAM~
Inuyasha bolted straight up, sweat drenching his clothes.
"It felt so real…" Inuyasha wasn't talking about the dream. He was referring to the pain he felt when Kagome chose his brother over him…
Just then, Inuyasha made a vowel. He wouldn't let Kagome do that to him, ever, and the only way to do that was to push her away and forget about her…
A/N: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!! It means a LOT to me! And I promise it won't take me nearly as long to get the next chapter out!! I'm thinking around Monday or Tuesday. I know this chapter wasn't as long as the last, but I hoped you like it. Don't worry, this is and Inuyasha/Kagome fic, and I like Sesshomaru, so I'm not going to bash him.
Onto more important stuff, I didn't know Inuyasha's father's name, and I have had some people think that it was Inutashio, so if you know what it is, PLEASE tell me!! And a warning, Sesshomaru's a little OOC in this, but I'm trying to make him in character.
CHAPTER 10: Sesshomaru's Confusion
Kagome and Sango plopped down onto one of the cushioned deep-pink seats and sighed, Sango placing an arm on Kagome's shoulder.
"Dad?" Inuyasha asked when a tall man with long, white hair identical to his walked in and looked at him. He was a little pale in the face, but had a certain elegance to him. His eyes held warmth in them as he gazed upon them with a dignified look. Kagome could tell that they were definitely father and son.
"Inuyasha, are these you're friends?" He asked in a soft, gentle voice, eyeing Kagome until she shifted uncomfortably.
"They know," Inuyasha blurted out suddenly. He winced when his father came up to him and ruffled his hair a bit, expecting a long lecture and maybe a hit. "I'm sorry father…I didn't mean for them to find out about the hanyou thing..."
"Oh Inuyasha, forget about what your brother says about humans…"
Just then, another tall male, that held more resemblance to the father in physical appearance than Inuyasha, walked in.
"Sesshomaru??? What are you doing here??" Inuyasha gasped when his half-brother arrived at the door with a scowl on his feminine-featured face. Sesshomaru leaned against the door frame, an impassive air about him. He examined his brother with a quick eye, and then walked towards him with long, quick strides.
"Look at you…" he said, slightly with distaste.
Inuyasha flinched. He and his brother never had a close-knit relationship before, and everything that he did Sesshomaru never seemed to approve. All Inuyasha ever wanted was to make his brother proud of him, and to please him. He wanted Sesshomaru to be able to say 'that's my brother' with pride. Inuyasha's one weakness.
"It's not what you think…" Inuyasha began, but trailed off when Sesshomaru held up his hand to silence him.
"I think it is. Tell me, dear brother, did you save this girl?" he asked knowingly, sending a quick glance at Kagome. Inuyasha, noticing this, somberly nodded. "I see…" Sesshomaru had always disapproved of humans, quite unlike his father. In fact, even though he, himself, was a full-fledged demon just like his father, Inuyasha was half-demon because his mother was a human and they had different mothers.
Kagome was baffled, and her face showed it.
'Why does he talk like it's a bad thing?'
"Let's go out to the car and we'll talk about this then, okay?" the hanyou's father said, noticing his sons' bleak faces. Sesshomaru led the way out the door without a glance back, followed by his father. Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, and then Kagome trailed behind them.
Kagome Higurashi watched as Inuyasha limped out, without the help of his brother or father. She didn't understand why they weren't helping him, but kept this comment to herself.
When Inuyasha nearly fell a couple of times, she was about to go over to him and help by giving him her shoulder for support, but Miroku was there first. Sango tapped Kagome on the shoulder and Kagome stopped walking to turn to her, greeting her with a perplexed expression.
"What's wrong, Kagome?" Sango asked, noting the confusion turning to gloom. "Do you feel okay?" Kagome nodded half-heartedly.
"It's just that I have a lot to think about," Kagome assured her, turning away so that she wouldn't start crying…she didn't even know exactly why she wanted to cry. It was as if only her unconsciousness knew exactly.
'Maybe it's because of Tokuno…after all we've gone through…'
But Kagome shook that thought from her head.
'No, he's gone…the whole thing's over…maybe it's tears of joy because he's gone. That's GOT to be it'
"We better hurry up or they might leave us behind." Kagome forced a weak smile, pushing ahead of Sango.
Soon they had reached the car, and Sango and Kagome gasped.
"That's your car??" Sango choked out. Miroku grinned at her. "WOW!!! How'd you get this?" She jumped towards it and starting stroking the fine red-paint job. "These don't come out until next spring!!" Kagome pulled her away from the car, half amused, half embarrassed. "You must be RICH to get one of these…"
"It's not polite to say that, Sango," Kagome said even though she was curious herself. Inuyasha didn't look rich. He wore normal clothes all the time at school, and never mentioned anything about his money like all the other rich snobs did.
Sango bowed with a quick 'I'm sorry'. Inuyasha gave a weak laugh as Miroku helped him into the back of the convertible.
"It's alright," Inuyasha replied, but his brother looked slightly annoyed. Sango climbed in after helping Kagome beside Inuyasha.
"What kind of car is this?" Kagome asked, looking over at Inuyasha. When he turned to her, he noticed that she no longer had that hatred and disgust in her eyes when she looked at him…almost the opposite of what he thought she would think when she found out he was a hanyou.
'But she knew Shippo was a demon…'
"It's a-" he was cut off.
"BMW M3 Convertible!!" Sango exclaimed excitedly, blushing a bright red after her outburst. To give her injured friends room in the back of the car, the three-seat back, Sango had hesitantly agreed to sit on Miroku's lap for the ride home, after making him promise no perverted thoughts or actions.
"This is one of the greatest BMWs in history. It gets the same 333-hp straight six as the M3 coupe, and has an acceleration of 0 to 60 in five seconds. This car goes on sale this spring…" The father added, with a gracious smirk.
"Then how'd you get it if it's not yet available?" Kagome asked while wincing from the pain she felt, trying to join the conversation as well as trying not to concentrate on being so close to Inuyasha. She glanced at him, but turned back with flushed cheeks when he caught her looking.
"A friend of mine was the one who designed it and I asked him if he would reserve me one. After doing him a big favor, he gave me the first one that came out." They pulled out of the parking lot after putting up the top of the car, and onto the nearby highway without a second thought.
"Kagome? What's wrong? Are you okay??" Sango asked anxiously when she noticed that her head began to bobble up and down tiredly, and her eyes began to droop a little. She reached over Inuyasha (who sat between them) and felt her forehead. "She feels warm! She lost a bit of blood before, and she might not have regained all her strength! Though she definitely didn't loose as much as you, Inuyasha." Inuyasha placed his hand on Kagome's forehead as well and gasped at how warm it was.
"Is she alright?"
"I think she fainted!" Inuyasha pulled her in his lap as he scooted over in her seat, holding her like you would a baby. He started to tap her cheek lightly, but she didn't respond.
"Kagome!!" a little head popped out of Kagome's bag. "Kagome wake up!!" Shippo had over hear their conversations, and was worried about his friend.
"Shippo, you're not helping!" Inuyasha yelled at the little fox youkai, but he ignored him. His father was about to ask him about the fox, but decided against it for the time being. He pulled over to the side of the road and peered worryingly into the back of the convertible. Sesshomaru only glanced back once, but did nothing to help them. He wasn't about to help a human girl...
"Here's some water!" Shippo reached into the bag and pulled out a half-empty bottle of water. Inuyasha hastily seized it from him and kindly made Kagome drink some by tapping her chin lightly. Then he poured some in his cupped hand and dripped it lightly on her face, trying to cool it down a little.
They waited awhile for an effect, and they were rewarded for their patience when Kagome began to blink.
"Kagome!" Shippo said happily, jumping onto her lap and giving her a big hug. She laid her head tiredly against Inuyasha's shoulder, before rolling it off of it and onto the seat cushions. She tried to sit up straight, but a strong arm held her back.
"You need to rest for awhile. You're human, remember?" Inuyasha smirked and got a feeble smile in return. He laid her head on his lap and removed the hair wandering into Kagome's pretty eyes…
"Does that mean you admit it…that you're a hanyou?" her speech was slurred, but Inuyasha was able to understand her. He nodded grimly with a glimpse from his brother. Their dad pulled back onto the highway after everyone settled back down.
"Yeah, I am half-demon," Inuyasha admitted, gazing at his brother, and Sesshomaru snorted softly and looked out the window. Inuyasha let out a small sigh before giving Kagome his full attention.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome murmured as she fell into a dreamy sleep. Sango cast a smile at her friend. Unknowingly, Miroku had placed his arm around her waist…until
*SLAP*
"PERVERT!!!" shrieked Sango, waking Kagome. Her head was still in Inuyasha's lap, and her head had somehow turned so that her face was in his strong stomach.
Sango glared at Miroku's roaming hands, but really felt miserable underneath her fake hatred. A tear streamed down her cheek and she turned away from him to look out the window.
How she wanted to be in his strong, warm embrace, but that fantasy could never be because he didn't really love her. It was as simple as that…at least in her mind.
Miroku watched on as Sango turned from him, spotting a gleam of light shimmer from her cheek. Was she crying again? He couldn't tell. He had always felt very attracted to Sango, and for once, his attraction wasn't only because of looks, but because of personality as well. Not a single girl besides her in the entire school had turned around and slapped him before…well, not like Sango at least. She was so cute when she was angry…
The rest of the car ride consisted of silence, for the four teens and the little kitsune had fallen asleep...besides Sesshomaru and Inutashio (A/N: I don't know if that's Inuyasha's father's name or not, but if you know, please tell me!), that is.
"Sesshomaru, what makes you hold the hatred you have for these humans?" Inutashio asked, almost solemnly. Sesshomaru looked taken aback.
"Father, they are impure and inferior to us! I can't believe you left my FULL demon mother for that wench of a human girl…" he said in a quiet, infuriated voice. "Humans aren't worthy of us, and they treat us like shit!!" Sesshomaru slammed his fist on the side of his door. All the anger about how the humans treated them had been bursting inside of him, wanting out, but Sesshomaru kept it all in. He refused to act like the humans would in their desperation. "You just don't get it, do you???"
Inutashio sighed, and said, never taking his eyes off the road, "It is YOU that don't understand, Sesshomaru. Look back at Inuyasha. Tell me, what do you see?" Confused by his father's strange request, he looked back at his brother.
"I see a half-breed…a hanyou…" he answered hotly. Unbeknownst to the two in the front seat, Inuyasha and Kagome were listening to their conversation. Kagome felt Inuyasha flinch beneath her.
'Poor Inuyasha, he must be awake as well…and no wonder he acts the way he does. I wouldn't be able to stand it if Souta didn't love me…'
"Look beyond that. What do you see him doing?" the father tried again.
"I see him holding the human girl…"
Kagome finally realized that Inuyasha had his hands wrapped loosely around her, one laying on her back, the other wrapping around to her backside. She felt Inuyasha release her slowly so his brother wouldn't know.
"And tell me, son, tell me why the girl isn't slapping him away or screaming for him to get away because he's a hanyou…even worse than a youkai, as you say…" Sesshomaru couldn't come up with an answer for this, so he just snorted and turned away.
Inutashio knew he got his oldest son thinking about the conversation.
"I know all humans don't treat us right, and there are few demons left in this world because of humans, but you need to learn how to love. You can't with all the hatred you hold in your heart for these humans that have done nothing to you."
'Sesshomaru, you'll understand one day…Just look at Kagome and Sango…and even Miroku! They treat him like he's one of them. Like a real person. Look passed most of humanity's faults and search for the ones that don't care what you are, Sesshomaru.'
Sesshomaru thought about what he just said. He had never thought of it that way before…
'Wait! What am I thinking?? Humans are still inferior to us!! I will not see them as my equal!'
Pulling a loose strand of hair out of his eyes, he peered out the window again. His thoughts were going everywhere, though. Sesshomaru had always wanted love, but not with the second-rate human beings that littered the vast world…but this girl, Kagome, his father said, was different somehow, now that he took a second look at her. Not only was she one of the most beautiful girls he had seen, with her long, silky, jet-black hair, but her eyes had held a kindness to them that he took note of when he first saw her. Sesshomaru felt his heart pounding in his chest, for probably the first time ever.
Sesshomaru decided, he would get to know this girl, the best of the humans he had seen yet, and judge them all by her. Since she was the kindest human he had met, he believed that it was alright to do that.
Inutashio pulled into a large, long driveway leading up to a very fancy door. The house was three stories high plus the basement and the attic. When the car came to a halt, Inutashio reached back and gently shook his son awake.
"Inuyasha, we're home." Inuyasha, being already awake, pretended to have been asleep. He rubbed his eyes then punched Miroku awake.
"Miroku, we're back. We have an extra bedroom up on-"
"The third floor, I know, I know…I think I've been to your house enough times to know it by now," Miroku whispered tiredly. Yawning, he cradled Sango into his arms and carefully got out of the car.
Kagome didn't want to get up. She liked it just where she was, smelling Inuyasha's sweet scent and comfortable. Unfortunately, Inuyasha hadn't felt the same way because he pulled Kagome off his lap and got out of the car. Just when she thought that he was going to leave her, he picked her up and onto his back.
"Inuyasha," called out Sesshomaru. "Let me take her. I-"
"What?? You might drop her!!"
"Let me take the girl, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said in a stern, yet whispered voice. "I want to talk to her…alone." Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder to Kagome, then back to his brother.
"She needs her res-"
"I'll take her up to the room then. Just let me talk to her alone."
"But-"
"INUYASHA!!" he winced from the tone of his voice. Inuyasha tenderly set Kagome back onto the car seat.
"Alright, but she's not like all the other humans, Sesshomaru. She won't treat you like the othe-"
"Go," commanded Sesshomaru. "I'll take care of her." With that, he picked up Kagome, bridal style, and leaped up to the door, leaving Inuyasha (who had to get Shippo still) gaping after him. He swung the door open to its fullest then bounded up two flights of stairs and walked calmly down the brightly lit hallway until he reached an empty room except for a queen-sized bed with light pink sheets draped over the windows.
Sesshomaru set Kagome down on the bed carefully, sitting down beside her.
"Girl," he said gently, not like Inuyasha said it…and she sort of liked it. Kagome pretended to stir a little, and then stretched out before him and rubbed her eyes. "Hey. Do you feel alright?"
"Uh, yeah…but where are we?" Kagome opened her eyes for the first time since they 'fell asleep'. It was a fairly large room with a light pink coat of paint on the walls.
"You're at my house…would you like a glass of water?" he said, almost nervously. He had never talked to a girl like this before.
"Uh-" Kagome began, but he already set off to get her some. She sat up and waited for him to return. "Thank you," she whispered when he handed it to her. After taking a sip, she set it comfortably in her lap.
"I have a question," he began, looking her in the eyes. "What do you think of youkais, girl?"
"My name's Kagome," she said softly. "And I guess they're just like regular people…they have feelings, flesh, and hearts, just like everyone else…may I ask why you're asking me this?" Sesshomaru didn't say anything, but just kept staring at her. Kagome began to think that she shouldn't have asked that.
'Poor Sesshomaru. He and Inuyasha must have been treated so cruelly. I wish I could help him.'
"Would you like to go get some lunch after you regain some of your strength back? Just me and you. I would like to get to know you better because you're the first human I've seen sincerity in their eyes." Kagome could only nod.
"Alright…but my mom and brother are probably worried sick about me, and I'm sure they-"
"Don't worry about it. My father's going to call them, and we'll stop by your house on the way. Now get some rest." Sesshomaru took the glass from her and placed it on the end table. Kagome smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
"No problem…" and he left her to rest. As soon as he closed the door, he was met face to face with Inuyasha.
"What the hell do you think you're doing??? Why are you taking her out to lunch today-'alone'?? Sesshomaru, I swear if you harm one strand of hair on her head, I'll-"
"Do you love her?" Sesshomaru butted in, asking bluntly. Inuyasha nearly fell back from the shock of the question.
"Wh-what??" he growled. "That wench?? Of course not!!"
"Good, because I think I'd like to get to know her better. She's different than all the other filthy, retched inhabitants of this world." And with that, he calmly walked down to the living room on the first floor. As he did so, Miroku stepped out of the room next to Kagome's.
"Sango's sleeping like a baby. She's exhausted, and frankly, so am I. Are your wounds healed yet? Almost maybe? That was a pretty nasty fall you took, but because you're a hanyou-"
"I know…"
"What's wrong?" Miroku question when he saw a confused/angry expression on his best friend. "Is Kagome alright?"
"She's fine. Apparently fine enough to accept Sesshomaru's invitation to lunch this afternoon," sneered Inuyasha, scowling for all he was worth.
"Sesshomaru? Ask a girl to lunch?? Wow…that's new. Why'd he do that?" said Miroku, looking thoughtful. He didn't understand why Inuyasha was so upset about it until—
"He asked Kagome to go to lunch with him alone, without me."
"Oh…" Miroku mouthed, finally letting it sink in.
"Why would he do that? He hates humans…"
"Well apparently my father talked some sense into him. Just a second ago he told me 'I think I'd like to get to know her better'." A phrase Inuyasha did not want to hear. "What if he actually…starts liking her?"
"I don't think that's your problem, Inuyasha. I think it's more like 'what if she starts liking him?" Miroku said seriously. "You need to make your move if you want Kagome, because she's a great girl. You know as well as I do that with Sesshomaru taking the time to get to know her, he'll like her just as much as us."
"I…I don't care about that stupid wench! As I said before, she can go to hell for all I care!!!!" Inuyasha bounded down the stairs and out the front door. He was going to go to the creek, a creek that has been 'his' secret place that not even Miroku knew he went.
Inuyasha felt…betrayed. It wasn't the first time in his life either. How could Kagome just accept to go with her brother to lunch?? Without asking him, the one who saved her from certain death?? He had been the one that risked his life to save hers, and she just leaves him??
Inuyasha scowled again as he reached the creek. Plopping down beside the semi-deep and large stream, he crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes, deep in thought.
'Fine, if Kagome would rather be with Sesshomaru, I'm not going to care!! She's not worth it anymore. Besides, I have Kikyo…'
He felt a pang in his heart as he said this, but ignored it.
'It was stupid to think that she'd return my feelings…she'd never love me.'
Inuyasha laid back onto the grass in the wooded area, falling fast asleep. A dream came to him then.
~DREAM~
"Kagome? Where are you??" Inuyasha screamed out, searching frantically for her. His heart was pounding as darkness fell over the forest, and the castle appeared.
"INUYASHA!!! HELP ME!!!" Inuyasha followed the voice as best as he could. For some reason, he couldn't pick up her scent at all.
"I'm coming Kagome!!" He leaped onto a large tree and climbed it to the very top. The castle had disappeared along with Kagome's voice. Now he could hear running water, and a waterfall. "KAGOME?? Where are you?"
Inuyasha followed the sound of the water, hoping and praying that it would lead him to Kagome. When he reached the top of the waterfall, Kagome was being held by Tokuno again.
"Tokuno…" Inuyasha growled. "Let her go!!!"
Suddenly, Sesshomaru stepped out of the darkness and stood by the edge, and as if in slow motion, Tokuno's evil grin plastered on his face, he pushed him over. Then he had somehow grabbed Inuyasha, and threw him over a few yards from where Sesshomaru had been pushed.
"Now chose which one you want…" was the last thing he heard from Tokuno.
'He must be talking to Kagome…don't jump after me, Kagome. Stay up there, safe. I want you to live…I…I love you…'
Kagome appeared at the end of the rock. She was about to jump off with no second thoughts.
"NO KAGOME!!! Stay up there!! Don't come after me!! I love you too much for you to die or get hurt for me!!"
Kagome jumped…but not towards him, but his older brother instead.
"Kagome," Inuyasha breathed as hurt and sorrow filled his features. Watching as Kagome reached Sesshomaru and enveloped him in a hug.
"I love you," she mouthed to Sesshomaru. Inuyasha continued to fall until everything went black.
~END DREAM~
Inuyasha bolted straight up, sweat drenching his clothes.
"It felt so real…" Inuyasha wasn't talking about the dream. He was referring to the pain he felt when Kagome chose his brother over him…
Just then, Inuyasha made a vowel. He wouldn't let Kagome do that to him, ever, and the only way to do that was to push her away and forget about her…
A/N: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!! It means a LOT to me! And I promise it won't take me nearly as long to get the next chapter out!! I'm thinking around Monday or Tuesday. I know this chapter wasn't as long as the last, but I hoped you like it. Don't worry, this is and Inuyasha/Kagome fic, and I like Sesshomaru, so I'm not going to bash him.
