{Disclaimer: See chapter one big baby! ^.^}
Chapter Nine: Rejection
Inuyasha opened his eyes slowly, taking in his surroundings as Sango and Miroku peered down at him.
"Are you ok?" Sango whispered as he sat up.
"Feh."
"He's fine," Miroku quipped, a slight smile on his face. Inuyasha scowled, but otherwise ignored him as he looked around the hut to the other side of the room. Kagome rested inside her sleeping bag, her hands curled under her chin with a gentle smile on her face.
"Is she…"
"She'll be fine," Miroku assured him. "But you, my friend. We don't know what happened to you."
"What are you talking about?"
Sango passed him Kagome's mirror. "You should take a look at this."
Inuyasha grabbed the mirror, nearly dropping it when he looked at his reflection. "What the hell…"
"It happened after you marked her," Myouga explained from Inuyasha's shoulder.
"But how?"
Myouga puffed up proudly. "I took the time to do research on Lady Kagome's blood. It turns out that my guess as to her being a copy of the Shikon was correct. Only Lady Kagome is purer than the jewel, so when a wish is made, it's granted in it's purist form. When you wished for her life, my lord, it gave you what you wanted as well."
"But isn't Inuyasha's demon blood harder to contain like that?" Sango asked as she kneeled beside Kagome. "Besides, I thought there was a chance that Inuyasha wouldn't remember us if he did."
Myouga shook his head. "Apparently the priestess powers in Lady Kagome's blood tamed the beast within him. Had he made the wish on the original Shikon no Tama, I don't think he would be as he is now."
"I see…I guess." Miroku scratched his head thoughtfully. "As long as Inuyasha and Kagome are ok, then everything is well."
Inuyasha glanced at him, then back at his reflection. His ears were on the sides of his head now, but they twitched much like his old ones did. He bore the same marks from the demon tournaments, and his hair was finer than it used to be. To the others around him it wasn't that big of a difference, but to Inuyasha it was colossal.
'What's she gonna say?' Inuyasha wondered as he looked at Kagome. 'What is she gonna say when she finds out that she did this?'
"Hey," Inuyasha said, noticing someone missing. "Where's Sesshoumaru?"
Sango shrugged. "I don't know. He said something about finishing something."
Inuyasha nodded, shaking his head in amusement. 'I bet he's finishing something. I can't wait to see what he gives her.
*******
Sesshoumaru crossed the battlefield, kicking over the bodies of demons in his search. Sango and the others were back at Kaede's village, nursing the unconscious Inuyasha and Kagome. They hadn't noticed him slip into the night, making his way back to the scene of battle so many hours before. He climbed the steps to Naraku's castle's entrance, the smell of the deceased demon threatening to make his face freeze in a grimace. On the deck lies what he was searching for. He lifted it up, inspecting it for anything that could be missing. Finding nothing wrong, he picked it up and carried it away from the castle back to Northwestern, one hand tensing around the Tenseiga.
*******
"Inuyasha, when are you going to tell Kagome that you're full demon now?" Shippou asked Inuyasha from below the Sacred Tree.
It had only taken Inuyasha three days to regain consciousness, but Kagome was out for a week before she came to. During that time, Sesshoumaru was teaching him how to change forms. They both learned that the puppy ears were one of his true images, including the giant dog he turned into at the Demon Tournaments. Sesshoumaru trained him how to change his appearance, from simple things like his hair color, to more difficult techniques like changing his height and being able to hold his human image during the day. Inuyasha absorbed this new information eagerly, like a sponge.
When Kagome woke up, it was to the half demon she'd known for a year, not the new full blooded demon he'd become. Today, he and Shippou were waiting for her to return home to take her to Sango and Sesshoumaru's joining ceremony. Kirara was with them, since she would be carrying Kagome there so Inuyasha could run beside them.
Her scent came from the well before her voice.
"Hey, can I get a little help, please?"
Inuyasha grumbled slightly and dropped in front of the well. He reached down and pulled her up, nearly dropping her back in in his surprise. She was dressed in the kimono he gave her after the battle against the east. The Shikon no Tama glistened against her throat, and the rose he'd given her pinned against the high bun on the crown of her head. She blushed under his intense gaze. {Picture please. Remember, though, that Inuyasha is in the same robes he was in in the Demon Tournaments.}
"How do I look?" she whispered. Inuyasha only stared at her dumbly as he sat her down on the other side.
Shippou leaped in her arms, taking her attention away from the mesmerized demon in front of her. "You look beautiful, Kagome."
Kagome smiled and patted his head in thanks. She walked past Inuyasha, who was still gawking, to Kirara. Kirara transformed and Kagome climbed on.
"Inuyasha, are you coming?" she called, giggling when he shook his head and turned to them. Kirara growled in amusement before leaping into the distance toward Northwestern, leaving Inuyasha to catch up.
*******
Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves at the celebration. Sango and Sesshoumaru sat at the head of the dinner table, each stealing glances at each other as the guests came to give their blessings. Demons from around the countryside attended the union, Kaede's village as well. Kaede and Shippou were teasing Myouga about his lack of alcohol control, and Kagome and Rin were dancing to the orchestra . Even Miroku seemed to be having a good time, showing one of the village girls the scar the wind tunnel left after Naraku was blown into oblivion. As I said, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Everyone, that is, but Inuyasha.
He stood on the balcony overlooking the servant village, watching the little lights in the huts. He sighed and lowered his head to the balcony rail.
'How am I going to tell Kagome I'm full demon?' he wondered. 'That HER blood turned me into one in the first place? She's gonna be devastated.'
*********
Kagome stood behind Inuyasha as he stood there with his head to the rail. 'I bet he blames me for Kikyou's death,' she thought. She was trying really hard not to cry, knowing he would be mad if he knew she was watching him. 'It is my fault. If I had only stayed out of the way. Kikyou could still be here and her and Inuyasha could be together.' Kagome sighed quietly and pattered across the room to the balcony. 'The least I can do is say I'm sorry.'
*********
Inuyasha was so deep in thought, he didn't hear Kagome coming until she was almost at his side. He jerked his head up, glaring at her. Kagome started, then sighed. 'I should have expected this,' she said to herself as she reached for him. Inuyasha stepped back, avoiding her touch.
'If only she knew, she'd never touch me again. She doesn't deserve to touch anything so filthy, so depraved as to use her the way I did.'
Kagome let her hand fall to her side, it choosing to finger one of the scenes on her kimono instead. Inuyasha stared at her, overcome once again in her beauty.
"Inuyasha, I came out here to say thank you for the kimono. And the flower. They're both beautiful."
Inuyasha nodded. "You're…welcome, Kagome."
She looked up at him, only to see tears in his eyes. Tears welled up in her own.
'He's thinking about Kikyou. He misses her. Its my fault she killed herself.'
{Yes, it is extremely stupid for her to think that Kikyou killing herself is her fault, but Kagome has done dumber things.}
Kagome reached to touch him again, and again Inuyasha shrugged away from her grasp. A tear slid down her cheek, but the lack of light on the landing prevented Inuyasha from seeing it.
"Inuyasha, about Kikyou-"
"I don't want to hear it."
Kagome stepped closer to him, trying to see his eyes. "But Inuyasha, I just want to say I'm-"
"Didn't I say I didn't want to hear it?" He turned back to the balcony. "You're so annoying. Just leave, would you?"
Kagome stared at his back for a while, before closing her eyes. 'He hates me,' she told herself. 'Oh God, he hates me.' She opened them again, tears streaming down her face.
"Do you mean that?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Are you deaf or something? Yes, I want you to leave."
Kagome nodded and walked off the balcony landing into the connecting room. Kagome broke into a run, fast putting distance between herself and Inuyasha. She ran blindly, not noticing a bright yellow figure step into her path until it was too late.
"OOMPH!"
Kagome and Sakura fell to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. They struggled to untangle themselves as Miroku came sauntering down the hallway.
"My, my, my. I've died and gone to heaven."
Sakura threw the goblet she was carrying to the kitchen at him. It rebounded off the wall and bounced off his head.
"Ow! Was that necessary?"
Sakura rolled her eyes as she stood up, reaching down to help Kagome to her feet. When Kagome didn't take it, she kneeled down to peer in her face. Sakura motioned for the monk to come closer as Kagome's soft sob reached his ears.
"Lady Kagome, what's wrong?" Sakura pleaded, wrapping her arms around Kagome's shaking shoulders. Miroku followed suit, wrapping his arms around both girls. Kagome whispered through her sobs. "He hates me. He blames me for Kikyou. I know he does. I can't stand for him to hate me!" She broke into fresh sobs. Sakura looked at Miroku questioningly. "What is she talking about?"
"Inuyasha. Don't ask about the Kikyou thing."
At the mention of the dead miko's name, Kagome's sobs grew more intense, shaking her small frame violently. Sakura rested her head on her shoulder as Miroku rubbed her back. (not in his perverse way, either.)
"Kagome, Lord Inuyasha loves you. He just doesn't know how to show it." Sakura smiled as Kagome lifted her tear-stained face to hers.
"That's right, Kagome. Besides, Kikyou didn't really kill herself. She only went back to where she belonged. You have to understand that, even if you were passed out during the whole thing."
"But you didn't hear him. He can't stand to be near me. He doesn't want me to touch him. He doesn't want me here!"
Another wave of sobs rose from her throat as Miroku and Sakura soaked in her words.
"Did he say that, Kagome?"
Kagome nodded.
"I'm sure he didn't mean it, my lady," Sakura assured her. Kagome shook her head as a gong went off in the reception hall. "No, he meant it. And if he wants me to leave, then I will."
She stood up and, drying her face on the sleeve of her kimono, walked back to the reception hall, leaving Miroku and Sakura wondering what she planned to do.
--------
Inu-chan: What's with you and this story? Why can't you remember to update it?
SF: I don't know. I don't mean to forget. It's not like I plan this kind of thing! As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of posting the rest of the story next week!
Kagome: Um, SF?
SF: Yeah.
Kagome: Aren't there only two chapters left to the story?
SF: {::flipping through the story::} It is! Well, would you look at that?
Inu-chan: Why are you so stupid! This is the only current I/K story posted and you're ignoring it!
SF: I'M NOT IGNORING IT!!!!!! I have shit to do Inu-chan! I'm trying to graduate this December, you jackass!
Inu-chan: And what does that have to do with me?
SF: If I graduate like I'm supposed to, then I can finish 'What a Difference'. If you keep hounding me-
{Kagome and the rest of the cast snickers.}
SF: Then I can't get done! Do you want that? IF I HAVE TO TAKE ONE MORE SEMESTER, I'M GOING TO MAKE DOG FOOD OUT OF YOU!!!!! GOT IT?
Inu-chan:{::backing away::} Got it. Jeez. You didn't have to snap like that.
SF: {::taking a deep breath::} Good. The preview and the responses are below.
Chapter Eleven: The Gift
Sango stared at her for a moment before looking down. 'Why does Kagome sound so false, like she's trying to be happy? What's wrong?' The questions were quickly forgotten when she saw what was in Kagome's hand. It was a small paper envelope. Sango reached for it. Before the little envelope exchanged hands, Kagome grabbed Sango's wrist.
"What happens next, if anything, is not your fault."
Responses:
Aisuru1: Me too! I don't think she's as weak as some tend to make her to be. Plus I'm a girl power chick anyway!
BeyondWords: The experiment went rather well. I put one of those laughing toys that only come on when you put light on them in the refrigerator on a bag of chips. When he opened the cabinet door, the toy started laughing, I came running trying to see what was up and he got cussed out for trying to eat my stuff. He still tries, but I see him pause, like he's waiting for the bag to start laughing or something. ; ) Good stuff if you ask me. The previews are supposed to inspire reviews -.-; but I forgot to put one. The cliffhangers just happen.
Sukuri: I totally forgot to explain what happened! Thank goodness you came along! That would have been a mess. I thought about putting it on her lip, but that would be a nuisance, don't you think?
Em Starcatcher: -.-; Yeah, I forgot. Didn't realize it until after I posted the bleeding chapter. Inu-chan, please don't go overboard. And whatever you do, DON'T hit anyone.
D-Chan3: I do have plans for Kagome, but it's not to become demon. Nope, but you'll like it all the same.
Nankinmai: I didn't know Inuyasha became a full youkai in 'Turnabout'. I thought it was a temporary effect of Kagome getting angry. {::shrugs::} But what do I know. Yup, Sesshou gets to protect a grown-up this time, and I intend for it to create a few...problems for him. {::wink-wink::} Sango was still inside. No one likes what Sesshou's planning. Sesshou: I do. SF: You would. Sesshou and Kagome are in Boston to stay, but Inuyasha and the others will visit from time to time. Once in November, and once in December for Sesshoumaru's birthday. Oh, and I can't explain the necklace yet. I will give you a hint though: It's heavy, but not because it's a diamond...
Tessa3: Yeah, it was. I apologize. Interning is hell. Sango and Sesshou won't truly be focused on until the last book.
Jack Sparrow1: I'm still waiting on the flames, but they don't seem to be coming. Hmmmm...perhaps Inu-chan becoming a full demon was a good idea. Nope, Kagome's human. I'm glad someone said something about that. I have some things to change about the next chapter.
Badgerwolf: So far, all Inu-chan's blood did was mark her behind her ear. I figured that would be a bit different than the usual bite. Oh, and her's turned him into a full demon. I think Myouga explained how in the above chapter.
xnycz azn angelx: Sorry about taking so long. I forgot to update. Won't happen again, promise!
Amethyst hanyou:Yeah, that was the entire chapter. I couldn't help it! I interned the night before I posted this. I'm so sorry! {::starts to cry::}
Fireash: Cool! I love Pics! If you do send them, could you send it to my mailing address? It's FlamingRyuu1059@aol.com.
Lunar Kitty: Myouga explained it in the above chapter, but if you're confused let me know and I'll do my best to explain. If you're still confused ('cause I sometimes can't explain my way out of a paper bag) let me know and I'll get Moms to explain. Her's are the best.
LadyoftheDragons1: I know! Don't you love surprises! Wait till you see the three I have planned for 'Trial'!
Zipora Tsuki: I'm glad you're happy. Kagome doesn't know yet. As a matter of fact, she doesn't find out ofr a while...
insomni-maniac: LOL. I'm sending the guys with the nice jackets and the happy pills to your house as soon as possible. ^.^
Jetflash: I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I haven't the slightest idea when this story is. {::shrugs::} Sad, I know but at least I admit it. Sorry about the confusion. I'm a new Inu fan. That explains the mix-up.
Sugarhighs:P: I'm so sorry about that. I forgot again. I'm so bad! I'm a bad birdy! {::starts to cry::} I'll finish it, I promise!