{ Warning: Spoiler in Chapter 7! Though only for episode 26, so most people have seen it already. Just a few references to how the Shikon no Tama was made.
About Inuyasha's wish.. well, just read ^^
You guys are awesome! And, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Thank you!! }
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Chapter 7 – reminiscing
By Jamethiel1
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Everyone sat in silence for a time once Sango had finished, and Kagome tried to accept everything she had been told as truth. But all Sango had told of was the jewel's creation, and not much past that. "You said the Shikon no Tama was given to a priestess to purify," she began, trying to understand fully. She couldn't help but notice how Inuyasha tensed at the words, even as Sango nodded in affirmation. "So how did Inuyasha end up with it?"
"That," started Sango, "might take two years to explain."
Two years.. "Does that mean I had something to do with it?" Kagome asked further, feeling rather self-conscious.
Another nod was given before she spoke, "Yes. You're the rein–" Sango suddenly found it hard to continue as a hand was pressed over her mouth. Inuyasha must not have noticed the glare the youkai exterminator gave him, or else he probably wouldn't have the guts to continue forcefully stifling her words.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome inquired, confused and a more than a little irritated by his actions. The hanyou shot her a helpless look, and Miroku sat calmly with his eyes closed, seemingly trying to stay out of the conflict altogether.
Sango took advantage of Inuyasha's distraction by pushing his hand away. "As I was saying!" she spoke, making it clear that she was not to be disrupted again. Inuyasha made a few shushing motions, but Sango continued undeterred, "You're the reincarnation of that priestess. She burned the Shikon no Tama along with her body when she died, and it only reappeared when you first came here." She shot a challenging glance to Inuyasha, but he had already gone back to sulking in his corner.
"Oh.." was Kagome's only reply. She was still completely in the dark, but at least she knew more than she had before. But why such a reaction from Inuyasha? He didn't want her to know that why? Keeping an eye on the hanyou, she framed another question for Sango. "So, if the jewel disappeared when Inuyasha made his wish.. that means Midoriku's soul was freed, right? And the demons' purified?" Watching him, Kagome saw as he flinched at her questions.
Sango shrugged and sighed, "Most likely. Otherwise it would have just become tainted by his wish, not vanished." A grimace from the hanyou. What was his problem?
"It was a good thing he made that wish then, right? Why'd you sound so upset by it?"
"Mainly just because he never told us," Sango replied with a sigh. "And also because you were supposed to have the Shikon no Tama, Kagome."
Inuyasha winced, but instantly jumped to his own defense, "I didn't steal it!"
"No one said you did," Sango spoke coolly, causing Inuyasha to return to his pouting after the initial eruption.
"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" Kagome finally asked, unable to stop herself after seeing how upset he was.
The hanyou glanced up at her, amber eyes seeming to pierce right through her. "Who said anything was wrong?" he demanded huffily, and Kagome could have sworn he was growling.
"I didn't mean anything by it!" she retorted, annoyed by his tone.
"Baka.." he muttered quietly, probably not meaning for her to hear the word. Unfortunately, she did.
"What was that?" she demanded, anger rising. She had been worried about him, and here he was insulting her! The nerve!
"Baka!" he shouted now, eyes locking on to her own, meeting the challenge.
"Jerk!" she returned, and was sure she heard weary sighs from across the room, but she was too focused on Inuyasha to pay much attention.
"Wench!"
"Dimwit!"
"Bitch!"
Kagome was momentarily taken aback, but her temper overcame shock. "Don't cuss at–"
"Ah, just like old times."
"–me..?" Kagome looked over to the speaker, anger deflating at such an interruption. Miroku had not only finally spoken, but he had said that almost fondly! Confusion was evident on her features as she spoke, "But you said that–" She was once again silenced, but this time by the tensely shaking heads of both Sango and Miroku. "What?" she continued, confusion only increasing.
"You said what, exactly?" Oh, that explained their reactions. The hanyou was now on his feet, hands clenching into fists as he glared at the pair with a mixture of suspicion and anger.
"N-nothing!" Sango assured him quickly, though he didn't look convinced. She glanced over to the monk for confirmation.
Miroku nodded sagely, "Though, by your reaction, Inuyasha, one might think you had something to hide.." he goaded. Kagome wondered if it was smart to provoke an already angry hanyou. One with some major temperamental problems.
"Keh!" was his only response, and the hanyou stormed from the hut. Kagome shook her head as the other two present let out sighs of relief.
"But really," Kagome started as if she hadn't taken Inuyasha's outburst seriously, "we fought like that before?"
She received matching nods in response to her question. "Quite often, actually."
"But you said we were close.." she was this time able to complete her statement, without Inuyasha around to cause a scene.
"You were, more so towards the end, but it had always been a sort of love/hate type relationship."
"Ah.." Kagome voiced, as if it all made sense now. Which it didn't.
"Since we're reminiscing about old times.." Miroku spoke up again, and Sango gave him a wary look. It was rightly placed.
"Hentai!" Sango shrieked, and her palm connected squarely with the side of his face as she slapped him. Kagome gawked a moment before she, unable to help herself, broke into a fit of giggles. The glare Sango sent her way made her squeak slightly and back away, but she couldn't seem to smother her laughter. Soon the youkai slayer smiled, and then laughed along with her friend. Miroku watched the girls, a bemused expression on his face. He shook his head slowly and stood, making his way out of the hut, seeming to think it safer outside with an angry hanyou than inside with two women in hysterics.
It took a while, but Kagome was finally able to get her laughter under control, mainly because she really needed to breathe. "I'm sorry, Sango," she apologized, chuckling one last time, "Does he do that often?"
Sango wiped tears of mirth from her eyes, her own laughter ceasing. However, the faint blush that crept along the youkai slayer's cheeks was definitely not imagined. "He used to," she answered, "but that was before.."
Kagome waited, but it became apparent Sango wasn't going to continue. "Before what?" she prodded, intensely curious.
"Before he asked me to be his wife," was the quiet reply. Then Sango laughed, "Actually, it came out more like 'Will you bear my child?', but it was different from his usual."
Kagome blinked, wondering how on earth that line had worked on Sango. It was.. but.. how.. "So you and he..?"
Sango shook her head, flush increasing. It certainly didn't take much to embarrass her; it seemed like she should be less easily flustered, being a demon slayer and all. "No. I haven't answered him yet.. but he's been really patient. And hasn't groped me or anyone else in a while, besides tonight of course, so I have to think he's serious." Kagome thought it amazing that she could say that sentence with a straight face. He really must be a pervert, if not groping was a sign of his affection. She stifled a giggle, not wanting to repeat the last performance; her sides still hurt from laughing.
Her good mood, however, was dampened as Inuyasha and what had happened earlier came flitting back to her mind. Something wanted her dead because of something she didn't even remember. The only thing she knew was it had something to do with the wish Inuyasha had made. A wish that concerned her.. Wait! What if he..? It made perfect sense; why hadn't she thought of it before? He must have wished for her to forget this time, her friends. That would explain why he hadn't expecting her to come back, even when it had only been a little over a week. It would explain why he didn't want her back; he was the one that made her forget in the first place! The only question was, why? Why had he made such a wish? Well, that question was easily answered.
"Kagome?" Sango asked, watching her with a slight look of worry. Kagome was too angry with a certain hanyou to hear her, however. Standing carefully so as not to jostle her injured shoulder, she headed for the door. "Kagome, wait! Where are you going?" Sango inquired further, rising and placing a restricting hand on her arm. "It's probably not a good idea to go out there alone again.."
Kagome glanced back at Sango, and her friend shied away from whatever she must have seen on her face. "I'm going to talk with Inuyasha," she stated simply, too upset for much else. She continued walking, leaving Sango alone and utterly bewildered.
"Inuyasha!" she called, her anger evident in her tone. He stood not too far away, Miroku at his side. At her call, however, the monk turned and began backing away, obviously not wanting to be caught in the crossfire of whatever was about to take place. The hanyou seemingly ignored her, merely twitching an ear. Finally, as she further neared, he spoke. "What is it?" he asked without turning to look at her.
Once she had finally reached him, she maneuvered in front of him. Kagome crossed her arms across her chest and glowered at him, unknowing of how much she looked like the hanyou himself at that moment. Miroku had safely retreated, leaving the two of them alone while he headed back to Sango. "I know what you wished for," she spoke finally, watching him carefully.
"Y-you what?!" he exclaimed, clearly not expecting her to say that of all things, "But how..? I never–"
"Save it!" Kagome interrupted, "I just want to know why! Why would you wish that, Inuyasha?" She continued to shout, but only because she knew she'd give way to tears if she let her anger falter.
Inuyasha looked like he had been backed into a corner. He opened his mouth, put no sound emerged, so he shut his jaw again. Kagome waited, not relenting, until he finally answered. "I.. I didn't want that to be the last time I ever saw you.." his voice was barely a whisper, but Kagome managed to catch the words. And they erased her fury in an instant, leaving her feeling disoriented.
"Wh-what? But I thought.. You didn't wish for me to forget..?" she looked up into his amber eyes, searching for some sign of the truth.
Those eyes widened at her question. "You thought I.. Of course I didn't!" he finished firmly, "I would never! What made you think that?!"
Kagome felt immensely guilty at having accused him. He hadn't.. he wanted to see me again.. She dropped to her knees, and Inuyasha was suddenly beside her. "Kagome? What's wrong?" he asked desperately, and that was the final blow to the dam holding back her tears. "I'm so sorry, Inuyasha," she sobbed quietly, trying to keep her shoulders from shaking but failing at her attempts, the pain in her shoulder just adding to her tears. "I just don't know what to think anymore.."
"Shh.." he soothed, stroking her head uncertainly. And now he was even trying to comfort her; how could she ever have accused him? Nothing made sense. She wished she could remember something, anything that would help her understand the seeming chaos around her. "It's okay, Kagome. Please don't cry.."
Those words again. It really had been him at her window, at the well. She turned to him, grabbing his haori and burying her face against his chest. He tensed for a moment, before she felt an arm wrap around her as he let her cry. She sobbed, releasing all her pain and confusion, all the helplessness she had been feeling.
"You shouldn't have come back," he had said. But he had wanted to see her again. He had wanted to see her. No matter what, she'd never leave him, not again. Crying herself into exhaustion, Kagome was vaguely aware of being pulled onto someone's lap, her head resting comfortably on that someone's shoulder. "Love you.." she murmured, before giving into sleep.
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End of Chapter 7
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