Before I Die
By: Goijh
Author's note: At some points in this chapter, Inuyasha may be a little out of character. I'm just toying with something here and his OOCness is needed to accomplish a couple things. I don't think that it's too bad though because its just some moments like he has in the series. Well, its a much longer moment-but it goes back to the same thing! *sweatdrops* Y'know what? Forget listening to me (If anyone ever does in the first place!). Just ignore my babbling right now and read the chapter.
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Seven ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome felt her head hit the cold floor of the well as she fell backwards. The tingle of the well's magic began to slowly recede as she tried to sit up, rubbing the back of her skull in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing pain that was developing.
But she couldn't move.
She was pinned to the ground by someone's heavier body.
A silken tress of hair fell across her cheek and she could feel hoarse breath on her cheek.
Tentatively the young miko opened her eyes, not willing to believe it was true until she saw him for herself.
Inuyasha's golden eyes almost glowed in the dim light of the shed. The had an abmormal glisten to them as if...as if he had been crying. His silver hair was cascading over his shoulders, falling onto Kaogme's frailer body like a blanket as he stared back into her eyes with an expression akin to astonishment and unsupressed happiness.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered in a weak gasp. When he had landed on her the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
The sound of her voice seemed to snap Inuyasha back to earth as suddenly he seemed to notice that he was crushing on her. A faint blush stained his cheek as he scurried off of her and backed a little away, hastily wiping his face with his sleeve in the hope that Kagome would not notice the faint traces of fresh tears on his cheeks.
Slowly, Kagome managed to prop herself up onto her elbows. Her breath was beginning to return to her now and her head was clearing. Inuyasha was crouched less than a foot away from her, anxiously staring at her.
Both were thinking the same thing: 'Is this real?'
Kagome was the first to break the silence as she stood shakily to her feet. Inuyasha's eyes raised with her movements, and he quickly jumped up to steady her when she looked like she might fall. For another moment they just stared at each other, neither really believing that the other was there.
Inuyasha brought his hand up to Kagome's dirt smugded face and using the pad of his thumb, wiped away one remaining tear from her cheek. His eyes softened as his thumb continued to caress her cheek.
"Inuyasha...? But why?" Kagome managed to blurt out. Both winced visibly at the unexpected volume of her voice, but Inuyasha didn't answer her. Instead he did something that completely took the young woman by surprise.
Inuyasha pulled Kagome into him in a fierce embrace, holding her as if he would never let go. Nuzzling his face into her hair, he breathed in deeply, trying to memorize the scent that was only Kagome.
Kagome, tense at first from shock, slowly began to relax, reveling in the hanyou's warmth. Timidly she snaked her own arms out from underneath Inuyasha's and snuck them around his back, returning the hug. She laid her head against his chest, content to savor the moment and just listen to the beating of his heart.
They stood there, just clinging to each other, neither saying a word that they might risk spoiling the moment. Finally, Inuyasha stepped back a little, just enough to look her in the eyes. His arms continued to hold on to her firmly though, so that she could not escape.
Hesitantly Kagome raised her eyes to meet the hanyou's, afraid of what he might say. Would he tell her that he had followed her through the well only to say good-bye? That he was leaving with Kikyo? Or worse, that he had chosen Kikyo over her? Kagome's smaller body began to tremble in anticipation of the words to come.
Inuyasha just gazed into her eyes for a moment longer, loving how they so easily betrayed what she felt. Despairing over why they so suddenly looked worried and scared.
Not wanting to see the fear on her face any more, afraid that it was directed at him, Inuyasha pulled Kagome close to him once more. With one hand he brushed her raven locks away from her face and ear. Leaning slightly, he posistioned his mouth a little above the crook in her neck, as if was about to tell her some great secret.
Kagome froze. She knew that she could never break free from his hold and escape, but part of her desperately did not want to hear whatever Inuyasha was about to tell her. Another part of her however, the part that always clung to any small hope, was scared to move. Afraid of missing the words that would come from his mouth in the hope that they would be the ones she longed to hear.
Kagome threw herself into Inuyasha's chest once more. She buried her face into his haori, shutting her eyes tightly, and clenching portions of his shirt with her small hands.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered. The tone he used sent chills down her spine."Promise me that you'll never leave me again."
The miko's entire body froze at his words. But that didn't stop Inuyasha from continuing.
"Promise me Kagome. Tell me that you'll never leave me like that again." His breath caressed her neck and earlobe. The sensations were delicious. But still Kagome could not move, not even to nod her head. She was like a deer in the headlights. Though why she was still afraid she had no idea.
"Please Kagome." Inuyasha begged, his voice taking on a desperate tone that she had never heard from him before. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Those words gave Kagome whatever it was that she needed to respond. Letting go of the fisted material in her hands, the miko threw her arms around Inuyasha's neck and squeezed. Had Inuyasha been anyone else he would have gagged out that she was suffocating him, but pride is something that will always be in your way no matter what the occasion. No hanyou could ever be choked by a mere ningen.
He did however bring one hand around to hers, loosening her grip a little.
"I promise Inuyasha." Kagome's voice, muffled by his haori came to his demon ears. Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat and a slow smile that the young woman could not see spread across his face.
'She promised.'
Unknowingly Inuyasha had held his breath, afraid that although Kagome had told him that she loved him, Kikyo had ruined any chance that he had ever had with the girl from the future that he truly loved more than life itself. But he wouldn't tell her that yet.
He wanted to start over, and prove to her without words that he really did care for her.
That way, once the words were said, there would be no doubts.
The scent of salt and water reached his sensitive nose. Alarmed Inuyasha pulled Kagome away from him so that he could see her face. Tears were pouring freely down her cheeks, making the dirt smudges already on them look even worse.
"Why are you crying?" Inuyasha all but shouted, suddenly feeling guilty and uncomfortable. He didn't want to make her cry. Was it his fault? Something he did? Struck with that unexplainable urge to comfort her whenever she was upset, Inuyasha started to rub her arms in what he hoped was a comforting manner.
"It's okay Kagome. Don't cry."
Suddenly Kagome began to laugh a little, though it was unrecognizable at first because of the crying. Alarm increasing, the hanyou looked down at her, confused and upset.
"It's okay Inuyasha." She hiccupped. "I'm crying because I'm happy."
Inuyasha just looked more confused.
Blushing a little, Kagome averted her eyes, letting them rest on anything except for Inuyasha. "I was afraid that I would never see you again." She explained.
Inuyasha felt masculine pride swell up in him at those words, but as was his nature, he wasn't going to admit it.
"Feh, as if wench. What were you thinking?" He asked as he leaned forward to tap on her head as if checking to make sure it wasn't hollow. "We still have shards to collect."
For a moment that dangerous fire flashed in Kagome's eyes. Inuyasha thought for sure that he was going to be sat. Flinching as he awaited the words, he was pleasantly surprised when instead Kagome broke out into a smile.
"That's right dog-boy. But I'm not going back right now. I have some things to do at home first."
As their normal composures quickly fell back upon them Inuyasha began to growl at her words. Opening his mouth to let out what Kagome knew could only be curses likely to make a sailor blush, the miko stopped him before it could begin.
Inuyasha almost choked back on his words when suddenly Kaogme's finger was pressed against his lips. "No language like that while we're here." She admonished with laughter dancing in her eyes. "If you want to talk like that you can go back to Feudal Era. However if you'd like to stay here with me for a while, then you'd better behave Inuyasha."
The hanyou's eyes widened a little in surprise. Was she actually inviting him to stay in her time. Though he would never say it out loud, he thought that her era was fascinating. But the only chances he ever had to see it were when he came to drag her back to the warring states era. She had never actually invited him before.
Nodding quietly to show that he understood, Inuyasha kept his mouth shut as Kagome moved her finger away. Sending him one of those smiles that could make him melt or do anything that she asked him, Kagome moved out of the way so that he could climb out of the well.
Inuyasha's eyes dropped inconspicuously to Kagome's short skirt, then moved to the ladder. 'Hmmm...' A wicked smirk pulled at the corners of his lips.
"Lead the way." He said as he crossed his arms waiting. Kagome's face flushed as she stuttered, looking for the right words.
"Inuyasha! I'm wearing a skirt."
Inuyasha was almost tempted to say, "I know." But decided that it would be more amusing to watch her try to explain it to him. On the other hand, it appeared pretty obvious that Kagome had forgotten that she had taken off the rosary. Inuyasha himself had, until he noticed it was wrapped around his wrist now, though when he had done that he couldn't recall.
"So?" He asked, settling on playing dumb.
Kagome blushed several shades of red as she groped for the words to tell Inuyasha without embarressing herself. "SO I can't go first because then you'd be able to see up my skirt!" She finally managed, her face reddening even more than either of them thought was possible.
Again, Inuyasha toyed with the idea of saying, "So?" once more. But Kagome's face was so red that he was sure it would explode if he didn't take pity on her. And that would not be good.
"Feh." Was all he said. With one step Inuyasha closed the distance between them. Grabbing Kagome he flung her onto his back and leapt out of the well. Without saying a word, he tightened his grip on the back of her legs, and sped off to her house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
(please?)
By: Goijh
Author's note: At some points in this chapter, Inuyasha may be a little out of character. I'm just toying with something here and his OOCness is needed to accomplish a couple things. I don't think that it's too bad though because its just some moments like he has in the series. Well, its a much longer moment-but it goes back to the same thing! *sweatdrops* Y'know what? Forget listening to me (If anyone ever does in the first place!). Just ignore my babbling right now and read the chapter.
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Seven ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome felt her head hit the cold floor of the well as she fell backwards. The tingle of the well's magic began to slowly recede as she tried to sit up, rubbing the back of her skull in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing pain that was developing.
But she couldn't move.
She was pinned to the ground by someone's heavier body.
A silken tress of hair fell across her cheek and she could feel hoarse breath on her cheek.
Tentatively the young miko opened her eyes, not willing to believe it was true until she saw him for herself.
Inuyasha's golden eyes almost glowed in the dim light of the shed. The had an abmormal glisten to them as if...as if he had been crying. His silver hair was cascading over his shoulders, falling onto Kaogme's frailer body like a blanket as he stared back into her eyes with an expression akin to astonishment and unsupressed happiness.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered in a weak gasp. When he had landed on her the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
The sound of her voice seemed to snap Inuyasha back to earth as suddenly he seemed to notice that he was crushing on her. A faint blush stained his cheek as he scurried off of her and backed a little away, hastily wiping his face with his sleeve in the hope that Kagome would not notice the faint traces of fresh tears on his cheeks.
Slowly, Kagome managed to prop herself up onto her elbows. Her breath was beginning to return to her now and her head was clearing. Inuyasha was crouched less than a foot away from her, anxiously staring at her.
Both were thinking the same thing: 'Is this real?'
Kagome was the first to break the silence as she stood shakily to her feet. Inuyasha's eyes raised with her movements, and he quickly jumped up to steady her when she looked like she might fall. For another moment they just stared at each other, neither really believing that the other was there.
Inuyasha brought his hand up to Kagome's dirt smugded face and using the pad of his thumb, wiped away one remaining tear from her cheek. His eyes softened as his thumb continued to caress her cheek.
"Inuyasha...? But why?" Kagome managed to blurt out. Both winced visibly at the unexpected volume of her voice, but Inuyasha didn't answer her. Instead he did something that completely took the young woman by surprise.
Inuyasha pulled Kagome into him in a fierce embrace, holding her as if he would never let go. Nuzzling his face into her hair, he breathed in deeply, trying to memorize the scent that was only Kagome.
Kagome, tense at first from shock, slowly began to relax, reveling in the hanyou's warmth. Timidly she snaked her own arms out from underneath Inuyasha's and snuck them around his back, returning the hug. She laid her head against his chest, content to savor the moment and just listen to the beating of his heart.
They stood there, just clinging to each other, neither saying a word that they might risk spoiling the moment. Finally, Inuyasha stepped back a little, just enough to look her in the eyes. His arms continued to hold on to her firmly though, so that she could not escape.
Hesitantly Kagome raised her eyes to meet the hanyou's, afraid of what he might say. Would he tell her that he had followed her through the well only to say good-bye? That he was leaving with Kikyo? Or worse, that he had chosen Kikyo over her? Kagome's smaller body began to tremble in anticipation of the words to come.
Inuyasha just gazed into her eyes for a moment longer, loving how they so easily betrayed what she felt. Despairing over why they so suddenly looked worried and scared.
Not wanting to see the fear on her face any more, afraid that it was directed at him, Inuyasha pulled Kagome close to him once more. With one hand he brushed her raven locks away from her face and ear. Leaning slightly, he posistioned his mouth a little above the crook in her neck, as if was about to tell her some great secret.
Kagome froze. She knew that she could never break free from his hold and escape, but part of her desperately did not want to hear whatever Inuyasha was about to tell her. Another part of her however, the part that always clung to any small hope, was scared to move. Afraid of missing the words that would come from his mouth in the hope that they would be the ones she longed to hear.
Kagome threw herself into Inuyasha's chest once more. She buried her face into his haori, shutting her eyes tightly, and clenching portions of his shirt with her small hands.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered. The tone he used sent chills down her spine."Promise me that you'll never leave me again."
The miko's entire body froze at his words. But that didn't stop Inuyasha from continuing.
"Promise me Kagome. Tell me that you'll never leave me like that again." His breath caressed her neck and earlobe. The sensations were delicious. But still Kagome could not move, not even to nod her head. She was like a deer in the headlights. Though why she was still afraid she had no idea.
"Please Kagome." Inuyasha begged, his voice taking on a desperate tone that she had never heard from him before. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Those words gave Kagome whatever it was that she needed to respond. Letting go of the fisted material in her hands, the miko threw her arms around Inuyasha's neck and squeezed. Had Inuyasha been anyone else he would have gagged out that she was suffocating him, but pride is something that will always be in your way no matter what the occasion. No hanyou could ever be choked by a mere ningen.
He did however bring one hand around to hers, loosening her grip a little.
"I promise Inuyasha." Kagome's voice, muffled by his haori came to his demon ears. Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat and a slow smile that the young woman could not see spread across his face.
'She promised.'
Unknowingly Inuyasha had held his breath, afraid that although Kagome had told him that she loved him, Kikyo had ruined any chance that he had ever had with the girl from the future that he truly loved more than life itself. But he wouldn't tell her that yet.
He wanted to start over, and prove to her without words that he really did care for her.
That way, once the words were said, there would be no doubts.
The scent of salt and water reached his sensitive nose. Alarmed Inuyasha pulled Kagome away from him so that he could see her face. Tears were pouring freely down her cheeks, making the dirt smudges already on them look even worse.
"Why are you crying?" Inuyasha all but shouted, suddenly feeling guilty and uncomfortable. He didn't want to make her cry. Was it his fault? Something he did? Struck with that unexplainable urge to comfort her whenever she was upset, Inuyasha started to rub her arms in what he hoped was a comforting manner.
"It's okay Kagome. Don't cry."
Suddenly Kagome began to laugh a little, though it was unrecognizable at first because of the crying. Alarm increasing, the hanyou looked down at her, confused and upset.
"It's okay Inuyasha." She hiccupped. "I'm crying because I'm happy."
Inuyasha just looked more confused.
Blushing a little, Kagome averted her eyes, letting them rest on anything except for Inuyasha. "I was afraid that I would never see you again." She explained.
Inuyasha felt masculine pride swell up in him at those words, but as was his nature, he wasn't going to admit it.
"Feh, as if wench. What were you thinking?" He asked as he leaned forward to tap on her head as if checking to make sure it wasn't hollow. "We still have shards to collect."
For a moment that dangerous fire flashed in Kagome's eyes. Inuyasha thought for sure that he was going to be sat. Flinching as he awaited the words, he was pleasantly surprised when instead Kagome broke out into a smile.
"That's right dog-boy. But I'm not going back right now. I have some things to do at home first."
As their normal composures quickly fell back upon them Inuyasha began to growl at her words. Opening his mouth to let out what Kagome knew could only be curses likely to make a sailor blush, the miko stopped him before it could begin.
Inuyasha almost choked back on his words when suddenly Kaogme's finger was pressed against his lips. "No language like that while we're here." She admonished with laughter dancing in her eyes. "If you want to talk like that you can go back to Feudal Era. However if you'd like to stay here with me for a while, then you'd better behave Inuyasha."
The hanyou's eyes widened a little in surprise. Was she actually inviting him to stay in her time. Though he would never say it out loud, he thought that her era was fascinating. But the only chances he ever had to see it were when he came to drag her back to the warring states era. She had never actually invited him before.
Nodding quietly to show that he understood, Inuyasha kept his mouth shut as Kagome moved her finger away. Sending him one of those smiles that could make him melt or do anything that she asked him, Kagome moved out of the way so that he could climb out of the well.
Inuyasha's eyes dropped inconspicuously to Kagome's short skirt, then moved to the ladder. 'Hmmm...' A wicked smirk pulled at the corners of his lips.
"Lead the way." He said as he crossed his arms waiting. Kagome's face flushed as she stuttered, looking for the right words.
"Inuyasha! I'm wearing a skirt."
Inuyasha was almost tempted to say, "I know." But decided that it would be more amusing to watch her try to explain it to him. On the other hand, it appeared pretty obvious that Kagome had forgotten that she had taken off the rosary. Inuyasha himself had, until he noticed it was wrapped around his wrist now, though when he had done that he couldn't recall.
"So?" He asked, settling on playing dumb.
Kagome blushed several shades of red as she groped for the words to tell Inuyasha without embarressing herself. "SO I can't go first because then you'd be able to see up my skirt!" She finally managed, her face reddening even more than either of them thought was possible.
Again, Inuyasha toyed with the idea of saying, "So?" once more. But Kagome's face was so red that he was sure it would explode if he didn't take pity on her. And that would not be good.
"Feh." Was all he said. With one step Inuyasha closed the distance between them. Grabbing Kagome he flung her onto his back and leapt out of the well. Without saying a word, he tightened his grip on the back of her legs, and sped off to her house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
(please?)