Demon Body, Human Heart
By DemonSaya
Disclaimer: Okay, I dun own any of these characters, I'm borrowing them, and I promised that I'd return them. Well...I promised because Inuyasha's rather mad that I kidnapped them for awhile and I'm afraid he may pull out his sword and demolish me...Please don't sue me, I already have a pmsing adolescent half-demon to deal with!
Policy on Flamers: Give me Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease, and I shall give you the same. If you don't, I know lots of assassins, thieves, demons, and goddesses, that would love to hurt you if I told them you flamed ^_^
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Chapter 9: Returning
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Inuyasha sat in the hut, sitting beside Kagome, his eyes roving around the room. Kagome lay on the ground sleeping, her pitch black eyelashes brushing her delicate cheeks. He reached his hands for hers, wrapping it around it. He was the only one awake.
Sango still had yet to wake from sleep, Miroku had fallen to sleep in his corner, and Sesshoumaru was sitting, his back leaning against the wall, dozing lightly. In Sesshoumaru's lap was the young girl, Rin.
Inuyasha smirked at the pair. It was rather amusing seeing the sworn human hater, Sesshoumaru, treating a human girl with such care. Sesshoumaru had been treating the girl as though she were flesh and-no, better than he'd treat his own flesh and blood.
He frowned a bit. Perhaps that wasn't entirely fair. After all, it had been so long ago that they'd actually been in the same home, with Inuyasha's mother, and their Father. Sesshoumaru hadn't always been such a pain in the ass, nor had he always been a killer. Once upon a time, he'd been a 'soft touch', as his mother had called the older demon.
In fact, for the most part, Sesshoumaru had been fiercly protective of him. Inuyasha frowned a bit, looking at the ground. It was strange, feeling so nostalgic. True, recently Sesshoumaru had begun to sink back to his own self, not being nearly as evil as he'd previously been, rather being more brotherly.
He shook his head fiercly. This was Sesshoumaru! The very demon who'd poked his eye out, tried to kill him on many occasions and-
He saved Kagome once, though. He helped Inuyasha learn the secret of the cutting wind. They still worked well together, in fact.
When had all this hatred between them begun?
Tetsusaiga...
The foundation of all their problems. When Sesshoumaru had learned that it had been willed to the younger son and he'd been left with the peaceful sword Tenseiga, it made Sesshoumaru become cold and hateful. Perhaps this girl was breaking through to him.
Inuyasha had learned long ago that there was something comforting about knowing you can protect someone, about the touch of a human that could calm a demon like nothing else. Perhaps that was why he'd been born in the first place. His father must have noticed it as well, which was why he sought love from a human female rather than a demon.
His golden eyes moved towards Kagome and he smiled, brushing her hair from her face. She scrunched her face up in her sleep and then smiled. He smiled as well. When he looked back towards his brother, the golden eyes were slitted open and he had moved Rin from his lap. "G'morning." Inuyasha teased, smirking.
Sesshoumaru simply glared at his brother and looked away, anywhere but at the young human girl who slept beside him now.
"I understand." Inuyasha said softly.
The older demon's eyes snapped towards Inuyasha, narrowing slightly. "Nani?"
Inuyasha smiled down at Kagome with undisguised tenderness. "You are also your father's son, Sesshoumaru. I know you find the same comfort that I do. Besides, it's too late to hide it. I've been awake the whole time."
"..." Sesshoumaru looked towards Rin silently. "You know nothing." He glared towards Inuyasha and saw a smile on his brother's face. "...?"
Inuyasha just waved his hand. "Don't bother, Sesshoumaru. I just got a little nostalgic tonight." He looked out the window, staring up at the moon. "Old memories I'd supressed, things I'd forgotten along time ago."
"Indeed..." Sesshoumaru looked away, his face softening slightly. He knew of what his brother spoke. It felt like it was ages ago since they'd truely been brothers. Since their father's death, in fact. He let greed put a wall up between him and his only known relative.
Inuyasha gave a half-smile, letting his brother dwell on the memories of the past as he himself had done.
Sesshoumaru leaned back against the wall, staring up at the roof. When they'd both been children, before The runt's mother took him to live in a human settlement, they'd been very close. Many times, when something threatened his little brother, he'd step in, and proceed to beat the crap out of it. They're father was gone so much that he was the only real male influence when Inuyasha was a brat.
When their father was dying, and the half-demon returned to his home, Sesshoumaru had learned the whelp would inherit the powerful weapon, Tetsusaiga, and so he treated the demon who practically idolized him with contempt. If he didn't get Tetsusaiga, who would protect the younger son? Certainly not the human woman, and the halfling was too young. He was the only one, so why didn't their father give him the sword?
Sesshoumaru let his eyes focus on his brother, his face serious. It had been such a long time since that had happened.
So long...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome woke slightly later in the morning, remembering she had a test the next day. She frowned a bit, sighing. She'd have to go home to get some studying done. She rolled over and found the hut was empty save her and the Houshi, Miroku. She sat, seeing he was staring at her. "Miroku-sama?"
He looked away for a moment, then back. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Kagome-sama..."
She sighed softly, seeing the depression in his eyes. She recognized it, because she'd seen it in her own eyes enough. "She'll come around, Miroku, really..." She said softly.
He looked at her sharply. "Nani...?"
"I've seen that very same look in my eyes too much not to know what's wrong." She explained, stretching and yawning.
He looked down. "I don't know why I did what I did, she probably hates me now...and if she didn't, she should." With a groan, he pulled at his hair. "I'm so stupid. I should have known she could never-"
Kagome silenced him with a look. "That kind of thinking is what kept Inuyasha and I apart so long." She said, then looked away. "Sango-chan cares about you...but she's afraid to fall in love with you. So she wont let herself."
Miroku pulls his hair harder. "Doesn't she see how much I love her?!" He rasped, his face pained. He closed his eyes, clutching both hands into fists. He slammed them both against the ground, forcing himself to his feet. "Why the hell is she so afraid?!"
She stood slowly, walked towards him and put a hand on his cursed one. "For the same reason you are. She doesn't want to be hurt, and you don't want to hurt her, however, both of you are killing each other by doing this. It'd be better just to admit that you love her, and either be rejected outright, or at the very least have her love returned..."
He stared at her in suprise, as she turned, heading towards the door. "Kagome-sama...?"
She smiled, looking at him over her shoulder. "If you two would let yourselves be happy, then nothing could stop you. Not even a curse."
He looked at her for a long moment, then returned the smile a bit. "Kind of like you and Inuyasha..."
She smiled, then left the room, leaving him to think about that. Outside, she found Inuyasha, who was smiling at her gently.
"You're a good mediator." He said, touching her hair gently.
"Aa!" She said with a cheerful smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The figure in the baboon pelt sat watching them from his palace, through Kana's mirror. His black eyes were narrowed in hatred, his face dark. He needed to get the rest of the shikon no tama. That girl had it.
Soft footsteps sounded behind him. "So you are here..."
Naraku turned sharply, glaring over his shoulder, his face furious. "Teme…" He took in the long black hair that clashed almost violently with the white and red kimono. She wore no expression on her face.
"Aa…" She said evenly.
He moved so quickly, he couldn't be seen. When he reappeared, he was standing directly in front of Kikyou. "Give me a reason not to kill you…" He said softly, putting one hand to her neck.
Her eyes rose slowly, meeting his. "I have a goal similar to yours." No fear was in those eyes. No emotion was in them whatsoever.
Naraku looked down at her for a long moment before slowly releasing her. "What is this goal?"
Kikyou walked away from him, looking down into Kanna's mirror. "The girl, Kagome…I wish to kill her."
A sneer passed over Naraku's lips. The good priestess Kikyou had been corrupted by hate. This was something he'd always wanted to see…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome quietly slipped her pack over her shoulder, glancing towards her dozing friends. She really hated doing things this way, but she wasn't sure how Inuyasha would react when she told him she needed to go home for a bit. With a heavy-hearted sigh, she headed towards the well.
Inuyasha's eyes opened slightly as she walked away. He lay there without any expression for a few moments, then stood to follow her, or even get there before her.
She sighed, pushing branches out of her face. She really wished she could just stay with him, rather than going to her stupid test-
She blinked as that thought crossed her mind and a soft laugh escaped her. She was beginning to sound like Inuyasha. With a shake of her head, she walked along the barely visible path. She couldn't help but smile as she walked. She was happy, genuinely happy for the first time in a LONG time. As she approached the well, she saw a figure with long white hair leaning against it, looking at her from under his bangs. "I-Inuyasha…" She stared at him in shock, confused. "I thought you were-"
"Sleeping?" He asked, smiling at her. "I was. You moved. I heard you." He saw the worry on her face and pushed away from the well, walking towards her slowly. "Kagome?"
"I-I'm sorry I left without saying good-bye…" She looked down, biting her lip. Gentle hands eased her face up and she was surprised to see a gentle smile on his face. "Inuyasha?"
He kissed her forehead. "I'm not going to try to stop you." He said softly.
She looked at him in confusion. "Huh?" She pushed away, staring up at him. "Why not?"
"Why would I try and stop you?" He gave her a funny look.
"You always have before…" She admitted.
He lifted a hand and stroked her cheek. "That was because I didn't know if you'd return." He leaned down, kissing her lips lightly. "I know you will now. So now I'm not afraid I'll loose you."
Her eyes widened and she let out a soft laugh and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Inuyasha, we're both so stupid!" She giggled, embracing him tightly. "I'll be back soon, I promise!"
He watched her run off with a fond smile on his face. When she had disappeared into the well, his smile fell a bit. Even though he put up a nice front for her, he was worried. What about that Hojou kid? What if she liked him too? He shook his head hard, trying to forget that thought. She said she loved him. What more did he need?
He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to go after her. He had to trust her. It would be the first step for them. He had to learn to trust…He reopened them, then walked towards the well, resting his hands on it, staring down into it. It wouldn't hurt to go and watch a bit. He had to prove that he could trust her. To himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome ran into school, smiling cheerfully. "Hi, guys!" She called, skidding to a stop beside her friends.
They looked towards her and immediately glomped her. "KAGOME-CHAN!" They squealed. They all laughed, leading her into the halls.
Inuyasha watched from a tree branch, his lips turned up into a smile. She was just here to visit with her friends.
She laughed lightly, and they headed towards the door, only to be stopped with Hojou, who walked up with flowers and a box of candy. She stopped and the smile on her face faded. "Hojou-kun…" She said softly.
He smiled brightly. "I heard you were back, and wanted to give you a gift." He explained. "The candies are sugar free." He added.
A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. "Arigatou…"
"Anyways, I wanted to ask if you wanted to see a movie on Saturday." He said, smiling again, brightly.
"Eto…" She began. "I-"
"She'd love to!" Her friends butted in.
"Eh?!" His eyes widened in delight. "I'll see you then!" He rode off on his bike, smiling.
Inuyasha was about to kill the kid, but he forced himself to stay put. That would give him away. Besides, Kagome seemed to be yelling…
"How could you just volunteer me like that?! I have somewhere else to be on Saturday!" She put her face in her hands. "Oh, geeze, he's gonna be so upset!"
The girls frowned at her. "I thought you'd broken up with that violent jerk you told us about!" The short-haired one said.
Kagome blushed. "He changed, guys…He…he loves me…" She rested her hands against her chest, looking happy. "He's not the same insolent boy he used to be…"
They stared at her, their eyes wide. "Kagome…"
Inuyasha sat back in the tree, his face serious. "Kagome…"
By DemonSaya
Disclaimer: Okay, I dun own any of these characters, I'm borrowing them, and I promised that I'd return them. Well...I promised because Inuyasha's rather mad that I kidnapped them for awhile and I'm afraid he may pull out his sword and demolish me...Please don't sue me, I already have a pmsing adolescent half-demon to deal with!
Policy on Flamers: Give me Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease, and I shall give you the same. If you don't, I know lots of assassins, thieves, demons, and goddesses, that would love to hurt you if I told them you flamed ^_^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 9: Returning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inuyasha sat in the hut, sitting beside Kagome, his eyes roving around the room. Kagome lay on the ground sleeping, her pitch black eyelashes brushing her delicate cheeks. He reached his hands for hers, wrapping it around it. He was the only one awake.
Sango still had yet to wake from sleep, Miroku had fallen to sleep in his corner, and Sesshoumaru was sitting, his back leaning against the wall, dozing lightly. In Sesshoumaru's lap was the young girl, Rin.
Inuyasha smirked at the pair. It was rather amusing seeing the sworn human hater, Sesshoumaru, treating a human girl with such care. Sesshoumaru had been treating the girl as though she were flesh and-no, better than he'd treat his own flesh and blood.
He frowned a bit. Perhaps that wasn't entirely fair. After all, it had been so long ago that they'd actually been in the same home, with Inuyasha's mother, and their Father. Sesshoumaru hadn't always been such a pain in the ass, nor had he always been a killer. Once upon a time, he'd been a 'soft touch', as his mother had called the older demon.
In fact, for the most part, Sesshoumaru had been fiercly protective of him. Inuyasha frowned a bit, looking at the ground. It was strange, feeling so nostalgic. True, recently Sesshoumaru had begun to sink back to his own self, not being nearly as evil as he'd previously been, rather being more brotherly.
He shook his head fiercly. This was Sesshoumaru! The very demon who'd poked his eye out, tried to kill him on many occasions and-
He saved Kagome once, though. He helped Inuyasha learn the secret of the cutting wind. They still worked well together, in fact.
When had all this hatred between them begun?
Tetsusaiga...
The foundation of all their problems. When Sesshoumaru had learned that it had been willed to the younger son and he'd been left with the peaceful sword Tenseiga, it made Sesshoumaru become cold and hateful. Perhaps this girl was breaking through to him.
Inuyasha had learned long ago that there was something comforting about knowing you can protect someone, about the touch of a human that could calm a demon like nothing else. Perhaps that was why he'd been born in the first place. His father must have noticed it as well, which was why he sought love from a human female rather than a demon.
His golden eyes moved towards Kagome and he smiled, brushing her hair from her face. She scrunched her face up in her sleep and then smiled. He smiled as well. When he looked back towards his brother, the golden eyes were slitted open and he had moved Rin from his lap. "G'morning." Inuyasha teased, smirking.
Sesshoumaru simply glared at his brother and looked away, anywhere but at the young human girl who slept beside him now.
"I understand." Inuyasha said softly.
The older demon's eyes snapped towards Inuyasha, narrowing slightly. "Nani?"
Inuyasha smiled down at Kagome with undisguised tenderness. "You are also your father's son, Sesshoumaru. I know you find the same comfort that I do. Besides, it's too late to hide it. I've been awake the whole time."
"..." Sesshoumaru looked towards Rin silently. "You know nothing." He glared towards Inuyasha and saw a smile on his brother's face. "...?"
Inuyasha just waved his hand. "Don't bother, Sesshoumaru. I just got a little nostalgic tonight." He looked out the window, staring up at the moon. "Old memories I'd supressed, things I'd forgotten along time ago."
"Indeed..." Sesshoumaru looked away, his face softening slightly. He knew of what his brother spoke. It felt like it was ages ago since they'd truely been brothers. Since their father's death, in fact. He let greed put a wall up between him and his only known relative.
Inuyasha gave a half-smile, letting his brother dwell on the memories of the past as he himself had done.
Sesshoumaru leaned back against the wall, staring up at the roof. When they'd both been children, before The runt's mother took him to live in a human settlement, they'd been very close. Many times, when something threatened his little brother, he'd step in, and proceed to beat the crap out of it. They're father was gone so much that he was the only real male influence when Inuyasha was a brat.
When their father was dying, and the half-demon returned to his home, Sesshoumaru had learned the whelp would inherit the powerful weapon, Tetsusaiga, and so he treated the demon who practically idolized him with contempt. If he didn't get Tetsusaiga, who would protect the younger son? Certainly not the human woman, and the halfling was too young. He was the only one, so why didn't their father give him the sword?
Sesshoumaru let his eyes focus on his brother, his face serious. It had been such a long time since that had happened.
So long...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome woke slightly later in the morning, remembering she had a test the next day. She frowned a bit, sighing. She'd have to go home to get some studying done. She rolled over and found the hut was empty save her and the Houshi, Miroku. She sat, seeing he was staring at her. "Miroku-sama?"
He looked away for a moment, then back. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Kagome-sama..."
She sighed softly, seeing the depression in his eyes. She recognized it, because she'd seen it in her own eyes enough. "She'll come around, Miroku, really..." She said softly.
He looked at her sharply. "Nani...?"
"I've seen that very same look in my eyes too much not to know what's wrong." She explained, stretching and yawning.
He looked down. "I don't know why I did what I did, she probably hates me now...and if she didn't, she should." With a groan, he pulled at his hair. "I'm so stupid. I should have known she could never-"
Kagome silenced him with a look. "That kind of thinking is what kept Inuyasha and I apart so long." She said, then looked away. "Sango-chan cares about you...but she's afraid to fall in love with you. So she wont let herself."
Miroku pulls his hair harder. "Doesn't she see how much I love her?!" He rasped, his face pained. He closed his eyes, clutching both hands into fists. He slammed them both against the ground, forcing himself to his feet. "Why the hell is she so afraid?!"
She stood slowly, walked towards him and put a hand on his cursed one. "For the same reason you are. She doesn't want to be hurt, and you don't want to hurt her, however, both of you are killing each other by doing this. It'd be better just to admit that you love her, and either be rejected outright, or at the very least have her love returned..."
He stared at her in suprise, as she turned, heading towards the door. "Kagome-sama...?"
She smiled, looking at him over her shoulder. "If you two would let yourselves be happy, then nothing could stop you. Not even a curse."
He looked at her for a long moment, then returned the smile a bit. "Kind of like you and Inuyasha..."
She smiled, then left the room, leaving him to think about that. Outside, she found Inuyasha, who was smiling at her gently.
"You're a good mediator." He said, touching her hair gently.
"Aa!" She said with a cheerful smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The figure in the baboon pelt sat watching them from his palace, through Kana's mirror. His black eyes were narrowed in hatred, his face dark. He needed to get the rest of the shikon no tama. That girl had it.
Soft footsteps sounded behind him. "So you are here..."
Naraku turned sharply, glaring over his shoulder, his face furious. "Teme…" He took in the long black hair that clashed almost violently with the white and red kimono. She wore no expression on her face.
"Aa…" She said evenly.
He moved so quickly, he couldn't be seen. When he reappeared, he was standing directly in front of Kikyou. "Give me a reason not to kill you…" He said softly, putting one hand to her neck.
Her eyes rose slowly, meeting his. "I have a goal similar to yours." No fear was in those eyes. No emotion was in them whatsoever.
Naraku looked down at her for a long moment before slowly releasing her. "What is this goal?"
Kikyou walked away from him, looking down into Kanna's mirror. "The girl, Kagome…I wish to kill her."
A sneer passed over Naraku's lips. The good priestess Kikyou had been corrupted by hate. This was something he'd always wanted to see…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome quietly slipped her pack over her shoulder, glancing towards her dozing friends. She really hated doing things this way, but she wasn't sure how Inuyasha would react when she told him she needed to go home for a bit. With a heavy-hearted sigh, she headed towards the well.
Inuyasha's eyes opened slightly as she walked away. He lay there without any expression for a few moments, then stood to follow her, or even get there before her.
She sighed, pushing branches out of her face. She really wished she could just stay with him, rather than going to her stupid test-
She blinked as that thought crossed her mind and a soft laugh escaped her. She was beginning to sound like Inuyasha. With a shake of her head, she walked along the barely visible path. She couldn't help but smile as she walked. She was happy, genuinely happy for the first time in a LONG time. As she approached the well, she saw a figure with long white hair leaning against it, looking at her from under his bangs. "I-Inuyasha…" She stared at him in shock, confused. "I thought you were-"
"Sleeping?" He asked, smiling at her. "I was. You moved. I heard you." He saw the worry on her face and pushed away from the well, walking towards her slowly. "Kagome?"
"I-I'm sorry I left without saying good-bye…" She looked down, biting her lip. Gentle hands eased her face up and she was surprised to see a gentle smile on his face. "Inuyasha?"
He kissed her forehead. "I'm not going to try to stop you." He said softly.
She looked at him in confusion. "Huh?" She pushed away, staring up at him. "Why not?"
"Why would I try and stop you?" He gave her a funny look.
"You always have before…" She admitted.
He lifted a hand and stroked her cheek. "That was because I didn't know if you'd return." He leaned down, kissing her lips lightly. "I know you will now. So now I'm not afraid I'll loose you."
Her eyes widened and she let out a soft laugh and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Inuyasha, we're both so stupid!" She giggled, embracing him tightly. "I'll be back soon, I promise!"
He watched her run off with a fond smile on his face. When she had disappeared into the well, his smile fell a bit. Even though he put up a nice front for her, he was worried. What about that Hojou kid? What if she liked him too? He shook his head hard, trying to forget that thought. She said she loved him. What more did he need?
He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to go after her. He had to trust her. It would be the first step for them. He had to learn to trust…He reopened them, then walked towards the well, resting his hands on it, staring down into it. It wouldn't hurt to go and watch a bit. He had to prove that he could trust her. To himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome ran into school, smiling cheerfully. "Hi, guys!" She called, skidding to a stop beside her friends.
They looked towards her and immediately glomped her. "KAGOME-CHAN!" They squealed. They all laughed, leading her into the halls.
Inuyasha watched from a tree branch, his lips turned up into a smile. She was just here to visit with her friends.
She laughed lightly, and they headed towards the door, only to be stopped with Hojou, who walked up with flowers and a box of candy. She stopped and the smile on her face faded. "Hojou-kun…" She said softly.
He smiled brightly. "I heard you were back, and wanted to give you a gift." He explained. "The candies are sugar free." He added.
A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. "Arigatou…"
"Anyways, I wanted to ask if you wanted to see a movie on Saturday." He said, smiling again, brightly.
"Eto…" She began. "I-"
"She'd love to!" Her friends butted in.
"Eh?!" His eyes widened in delight. "I'll see you then!" He rode off on his bike, smiling.
Inuyasha was about to kill the kid, but he forced himself to stay put. That would give him away. Besides, Kagome seemed to be yelling…
"How could you just volunteer me like that?! I have somewhere else to be on Saturday!" She put her face in her hands. "Oh, geeze, he's gonna be so upset!"
The girls frowned at her. "I thought you'd broken up with that violent jerk you told us about!" The short-haired one said.
Kagome blushed. "He changed, guys…He…he loves me…" She rested her hands against her chest, looking happy. "He's not the same insolent boy he used to be…"
They stared at her, their eyes wide. "Kagome…"
Inuyasha sat back in the tree, his face serious. "Kagome…"