Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi's Inuyasha, not mine.

Notes: So? How is it so far? I'm sorry if it's boring...just tell me if it is and when to stop.

~In Too Deep~

By Ai-no-Tora (Mia)

Chapter 3: Words That Hurt The Most

Some days later...

So far Inuyasha wasn't showing any signs of being...well, not being Inuyasha. He didn't seem to notice it, either that or he chose to ignore the careful prodding of eyes studying him whenever he wasn't too aware and it didn't take long for everyone to forget. Kagome wanted badly to make reason of it all and so thought it was probably just a side-effect of being a half-youkai, who knew? It was just all she could come up with at the time.

It was finally getting dark as they arrived back to Kaede's village from a failed shard hunt, the rumor being only a rumor anyway. Inuyasha naturally voiced his frustration; the others yawning and aching with fatigue. Kagome slid off his back, steps small and eyes strained to stay open. Kaede greeted them, learning of their disappointment and why they had returned so soon. "I had thought trust in that miser of an elder was exploited too much," Kaede admitted, sighing at her mistake. "And I had paid him such a high price for so worthless of information. I deeply apologize."

Inuyasha planted himself on the edge of the porch, his back to her. "Keh! That's why you check the background of the human first before you give them anything, you old senile bag of wrinkles..." How ironic was that she was anything but senile and he knew it (although she was definitely old and wrinkly ^^).

Kagome quickly caught the old woman's eyes, and smiled a silent apology for the irritable hanyou. "Inuyasha, honestly, at least we know there's one less person out there we have to turn to," she attempted to reason with him, sitting next to him and watching the bright moon emerge from behind a thin wisp of a cloud above in the dark blue mystic of the night sky.

He didn't say anything after a while, trying to cool his engines and trying to think clearly. "Feh...no matter how you look at it, there goes one day wasted and you can never get it back."

Kagome had to smile; even though his words were meant to be rough, his voice was still gentle. "Whatever you say, Inuyasha." She leaned against his side, the smile still on her lips as she felt him relax next to her instead of tense up like he usually did before. What actually was out of the ordinary was when she felt his arm on her back, his fingers wrapping around her forearm and bringing her closer to him still.

She was still adjusting to the initial shock from the sudden display of affection when a white light could be seen in the forests nearby. It was small, whispery and iridescent, flowing and disappearing behind every other tree like a snake gliding to and fro except not on ground, but in midair. She felt her heart pound faster as she recognized what it was; a single shinidamachuu came ever closer, red eyes hauntingly gazing at them as it stopped just a dozen meters away. It was obvious; he was being summoned.

Kagome stiffened underneath Inuyasha's arm as well as his grip around her seemed to tighten just a little, his fingers unexpectedly fisting in her uniform and urging her to look up at him, panic rising steadily. Is he going to go to her? Is he leaving me...? She frowned when his eyes became less intense; the fierce scowl left him and he stared fascinatingly at the flying insect as though he had never seen it before. What he said next shocked the socks off of anybody that was listening. "What the fuck is that...?!" Miroku who was sitting quietly in the darkness and feigned sleep behind them with a hot cup of tea, suddenly gagged at the comment, liquid sputtering in this throat. "Damn, those things are fuckin' ugly! They look like my granny mated with a red-eyed insect sperm demon."

You can imagine that not a soul was asleep in the hut that night and had their full attention on the scene.

Kagome shrugged away his arm to turn and look directly at him. "I-Inuyasha?!"

At first he didn't look at her, still gawking at Kikyo's insect underlings but then slowly looked toward her, a smirk on his lips. "Oh you're talking to me...that's right," He was mumbling. She gasped when he all of a sudden reached for her hand, holding it firmly between both of his own and intertwining his fingers with hers. Her focus shifted from their hands up to his face, oblivious and confused. "Kagome-sa--I mean Kagome...I'm sorry about calling you a stupid whore before - it certainly wasn't my place and I apologize. You're actually the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

Everyone gawked at him, including Kagome who was presently struggling at trying to make any sense of this. What the seven hells is going on here?! He would never say something like that to me...or would he? But not like this, not in front of anyone! She saw him side-glance at the shinidamachuu, wonder and curiosity in his eyes. It didn't seem like he was looking for Kikyou and she feared what the priestess might do if she were to see Inuyasha saying all this and being so complimentary of her. Now for sure she would attempt to get rid of her at all costs. Just for that she wanted to sit Inuyasha blind and kiss him fiercely at the same time but for now, she wasn't entirely too sure what she was supposed to do.

As though it was their cue to leave, the shinidamachuu glided away without carrying out their purpose as Kagome detached her hands from Inuyasha to stand quickly, searching for any signs of Kikyou in the surrounding area but found nothing but the warm summer night and the sounds of crickets chirping off in the fields. She released a heavy sigh; should she be glad that she was left with Inuyasha, or thinking about writing up a will just in case?

Behind her, the hanyou had already returned to his senses. Inuyasha was literally burning a hole into her back, puzzled as to why she was all of a sudden standing up and looking around as though there were spies in the bushes that were after her when he knew quite well there was no one.

She turned back around and sat, studying Inuyasha with this unusual glare on her face. "And what do you think you were doing just now? You let her get away."

In answer to that, he had frowned questioningly, looking thoroughly puzzled. "Let who get away? What the hell are you talking about Kagome?" He brushed away a bang in front of her eye, the action again unexpected but felt normal somehow, a certain gentleness that came only from Inuyasha. "I think you need to get some sleep already; you'd be such a useless wench if you were acting like this all the time." He rose without another word from her, extending his hand to help her up.

Kagome's body leaned into the invitation. She was just too tired, too worn out, too confused to do anything different. So what if Kikyou had seen that? So what if he let her get away? So what if Inuyasha was acting out of the ordinary, being so bold to display affection for her? Shouldn't all these things make her happy?

Questions, questions, too many questions. Her mind shifted to auto-pilot as she finally reached up and grabbed Inuyasha's hand.

+ + +

The next day...

The day began with the warm bright sun breaking through the horizon, the sky a beautiful blue. Inuyasha and Miroku were outside of Kaede's hut from the insistence of the women; it wasn't only the reason for privacy but for them to have the chance to discuss the events of last night.

Sango regarded her words thoughtfully, using a modern brush to comb through her thick dark brown tresses. "When you said he wasn't acting like himself, you weren't kidding." She handed the brush back to Kagome before tying her hair and tossing it over her shoulder. "And what he said...well, it's not like he doesn't feel that way about you Kagome-chan it's just that, well, we all know he has trouble expressing his feelings."

Kagome nodded timidly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she stretched up high to the ceiling with a big yawn. "...Really! Sure he would hug me if I was hurt or if I made him feel guilty enough to make him hug me, but...well, it's rare that he would do it of his own accord without real reason to back it up." She sighed as she straightened, peering into the smoldering ashes in the hearth on the floor. "I wish sometimes that he would show me what he truly felt...and not because I was indirectly forcing him but because he truly wanted me to know."

Outside, Miroku inconspicuously had his ear pressed against the door while Inuyasha stood nearby, easily being able to overhear every word as Shippô watched the two of them, shaking his head in disapproval.

Inuyasha's ear flickered a bit, his eyes closed as he took in what Kagome had just related to Sango. It hurt yes, but he wouldn't instantly admit it, although...what in the world were they talking about? He didn't remember anything out of the ordinary last night except when Kagome had stood up so quickly after he put an arm around her. It was as though his touch had burned her...and it was one of those moments that he actually didn't care who saw him showing how much he needed Kagome to be closer to him.

Sango moved toward her in an attempt to comfort. "Kagome-chan...you know he feels for you. Even if it's not said in words, you can just feel it. It's as thick as smoke; we all feel it, Houshi-sama and Shippô-chan. You would have to be quite dense not to see that he holds you very highly."

Outside, Inuyasha opened his eyes. If she would let him, he would have Sango as his mind-reader. Now more than ever, he hated the fact that he just couldn't make himself outright and do it, that thing they called love.

Kagome replied with a dim smile; it seemed as though her attempts didn't quite work. "Yes, but there's someone he holds even more highly...but I can't complain. After all, the prettiest and tallest flower is the first to be picked, ne?" The demon-exterminator was about to respond before her friend all of a sudden reached for her pack and headed for the door. "I think it's time I visited my family. Mama must be so worried that I haven't been back for the last couple of weeks," She inserted a forced chuckle with half-hearted enthusiasm; it ached to see her act so badly, it felt like a wound had just been reopened. "I'm like the Princess and the Pea! I miss my bed and my back's aching...I'm such a spoiled brat!" After some strained giggles, she went over to open the door to find no one there, not even Shippô. "A-re? I wonder where they went off to?"

Sango followed after her, disquieted at Kagome's words. Now more than ever, she kept repeating the same words in her head.

Why must the people who deserve happiness the most hurt the most?

+ + +

Nearby...

His fists were balled up in his sleeves, teeth clenched and his jaw working. The prettiest and tallest flower is the first to be picked...Kagome, you and your stupid metaphors! Inuyasha angrily sent the thought out amongst the trees; and now she was leaving and of course she wouldn't admit it was because of him. "I don't get it! What the fuck did I do wrong?!"

Kyô shook his head where he observed the entire play of emotions. Gods, this hanyou really is an idiot...great. It's hopeless.

Inuyasha slowed his pace as he came nearer to the Bone-Eater's Well, his hand reaching out and gripping the weathered wood as he let his claws sink in. The more he glared at it, the more he loathed its existence. It had no place here; perhaps if he were to...his ear flicked at the slightest sound of a twig snapping as well as his nose detecting her presence behind him. He didn't completely turn but instead looked at her over his shoulder. "Going somewhere?"

Kagome wanted to laugh but she couldn't. She was already physically, mentally and emotionally spent. When all three were spent then she would just be left with her empty self and that's something she didn't want Inuyasha to see. "Okay, I know you've been acting dumb lately but I didn't think this could be more obvious. I'm going home - I haven't seen my family, much less go to school."

She walked forward, readying to pass him and just at the moment she reached the well, his hand had shot out like lightning as she didn't even see it - seizing her arm and dragged her to him. She was speechless when she found herself colliding with his chest, his silvery hair brushing against her hand and the feeling made her want to soar. She looked up wide-eyed, almost afraid at what would happen.

"Listen, you," Inuyasha began, placing a look on her that would set a field ablaze. Kyô, being wrapped up in the soap-opera, suddenly found himself being tugged into the picture and feeling himself fitted and surrounded by skin, heavy fabric gravitating him to the ground. The soft earth was beneath his feet, his ears feeling awkward once again as they weren't on the sides of his head but on the top, senses going haywire as he fought to adjust to them. Argh, this is why I want a fuckin' warning before I delve into this damn creature, Kyô thought timidly before blinking down at Kagome who had no clue as to what had just occurred inside of Inuyasha's body.

Kyô wanted to start over, then began with snaking his arms around her waist. He felt the muscles on her ribs tighten; she felt so small below his hold and so delicate. He faintly recognized the sound of her heart thumping like mad underneath the shell of her soft chest that was now pressed against his. Her shirt was a bit short and his thumb grazed a small exposed patch of skin of her belly so warm to the touch, and the more he rubbed his thumb experimentally on her side, it resulted in her having goose flesh. That brought a confident smile to his face as he bent ever nearer down to her. "Do you know Kagome?"

It was hard to breathe, what with the thunderous pump in her chest and the quaking butterflies in her stomach. Damn it all; why must he have such an effect on her? "Kn-Know what...?" There was a quick intake of breath when his face came ever nearer, their noses grazing as well as his lips with hers...an indirect kiss. She tensed at the thought. He...He's going to kiss me...?

His eyes looked drunken, half-open. "Do you know how much this hanyou will miss you?" At that, Kagome closed her eyes. He lowered, tilting his head...

When Inuyasha snapped his eyes open. Kyô was harshly hurled back into Inuyasha's mind once again without warning. DAMNIT! His complaint was loud and clear as he quickly moved to look thru the hanyou's eyes to see the results of his actions.

At seeing Kagome's face so close to his, a blush came over his face like a tsunami and without another thought or consideration, he roughly pushed her away, stepping back a couple steps. Blue-gray eyes met his, thoroughly confused. "Wh-Wh-What were you trying to do, Kagome??"

Anger slowly bubbled into her, her face a similar shade of bright pink. "What?! YOU were trying to kiss ME!"

Inuyasha retorted heatedly, "Keh! Like I would ever kiss you!"

Time stood still. A crevice ran through Kagome's heart and effectively slicing it in half. She stared at him, into his eyes and wondered why she had ever let herself fall for him in the first place. She was now on empty.

The moment he saw her shaking, he knew that what he had said were the wrong words. He didn't mean them, they were just words that came to mind easily and without throught whatsoever. I-I meant kiss you so easily! I don't do that kind of stuff everyday, damnit! But the words wouldn't come out of his throat and it was now officially too late.

Her words were quiet yet unforgiving, her eyes now a warm gray. She wanted to cry, and he with her. It was the calm before the storm. Why must words carry such blows?

"Inuyasha...O S U W A R I."

He saw her soft lips move with the words and felt the world overturn before the storm. It was the first time Kyô had ever seen such power from one word. He put his face in his hands. Dear God, it's a good thing I'm not in his body right now...

Inuyasha's face plummeted to the ground, the force matching the tone in Kagome's voice and so much more. If she had said it any louder, the power of the rosary would have decapitated him. His face dug a deeper trench into the dirt as she next spoke such cold words. "I know now that the only woman you'd willingly kiss of your own accord would be Kikyou." He tried to respond but all that came was muffling, his mouth too full of earth. "Now go off and kiss her for all I care - which I don't - kiss her all you want! Don't bother coming for me - I'll come back when I'm good and ready and now this: it definitely won't be because of you!"

She turned and just before leaping, she cried loud and clear - no doubt Inuyasha had no choice but to hear it. "OSUWARI!" In the event that Inuyasha's world became black was when she was gone from Sengoku Jidai completely.

Kyô moaned in frustration. "You guys are so fuckin' stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!" No one heard him but himself.

+ + +

Notes: So angst-filled, eh? I'm sorry, I've just been that way lately. You know that new ending song called "Come"? If anyone knows the artist, pretty please tell me?? I could look it up tho huh? Anyway, thanx!

Osuwari: Sit

A-re?: Like saying, "Huh?" or an incomplete "Wha?" Shows puzzlement, a questioning.