Disclaimer: We don't own Inuyasha. We just keep all the bishie-licious men
from the show locked up in our rooms. That's all ^_^
AN: SummerWind8585: Thank you! Congrats on watching! Whatchya think of it?
Storymind: LOL! Well, we love you too and are delighted you are enjoying the story so much! Just. Be gentler with the family there, would you? I mean. It's not good having them think you're insane. Still, we hope you squeal just as loudly to this chapter update! ^_^
Sierra: Yes he should. But since when has anything been simple between those two, ever? And we're glad you like the story!
AngelOfDiamonds: ::grins:: Thank you for the compliments!! They mean a lot to us, and we are always delighted to see new names added to the review list! As for who is going to rebel. Well, you'll just have to keep on reading to find out I guess! Can't give it all away now can we? ^_~
sweet little country girl1: ::blinks:: Well. Uh. ::leans over to PoF, make sure to keep Inuyasha's sword away from her. She might use it.:: Well, Sesshy is pretty with amazingly lovely hair. So that is a point for him! No? Besides, you can't kill them all off! What will we do without the token bad, yet pretty boy around?
Aewi: We are glad to hear you aren't disappointed and here is just another taste of our updating! Hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
Junsei Hyakuhei: Lol, we are! Hope you like how thing develop! Now, can you make that Inu face any happier I wonder.
Inu-Kyuuketsuki: Glad you like!! Here's the latest chapter, more to come! Hope you enjoy it as well!
Jess: Will do! ^_^ Glad your liking it! Hopefully, you will enjoy this one too!
Lz: Love is good! Keep on loving it! And read the chappie to answer your question! =P
Elsbeth: Thank you so much for your kind words!! They mean a lot to us! And we're glad you are enjoying the story so much! We aim to please, and here's a new chapter to hopefully do just that! Thank you once again for the compliments and here's a free Pizza slice on us for you to read with! Hm, maybe I should switch to Pizza instead of strawberries. Sounds yummy. Mmm.. Pizza. Gone off track there. Anyway! Glad you like!
Milady Goddess: As you asked! We are updating! Glad you like!
Iz and jess thank you! We're glad you like!
Thank you to all the rest who reviewed and are reading this story, we're delighted you are enjoying it and hope you keep on having a blast reading it!
Also, a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! Even though it's the year of the Monkey we wish everyone a happy Inu filled year!
Enjoy the new chappie! Please review ^_^ Ja ne!
* * * *
Kagome sat on the bed and smiled softly when she saw him come in. She was wearing his clothes again, but the bandages could still be seen. Especially the one around her wrist. "Did everything go well?" Kagome asked with genuine concern as she got up and strode towards him once he was in the room and the door was closed.
All of a sudden the roles were reversed. He kept his eyes to the ground, unable to look at her. "As well as could be expected," he said. "But Miroku was the one who really pulled everything off. I owe him a lot. Like for saving your life." But he said the last sentence in his mind only. Feeling her come close, he felt like a cringing animal. He didn't think he could look her in the eyes again.
Kagome kept her distance and watched him for a long moment, her good hand closing over her broken wrist protectively. "I didn't realize my life was in need of saving." Kagome said watching him like he was a puzzle that she was trying to put together. "My face isn't that badly bruised, the swelling went down, you can look at me."
"No," he slowly uttered it, as if defying Kagome hurt him. "No, I can't." It was enough that he could already smell her. She seemed to be everywhere. He thought back to what Miroku had said, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. Okay, so she didn't hate him, but telling her that they were married might change that, and he didn't want to tell her anything when they only had a single, precious day left together.
"Then what can you do beside stand against the door?" Kagome asked with an exasperated sigh. They didn't have more then a day left together and he was acting this way. Looking down at her wrist, Kagome blew a strand of stray hair out of her eyes. "Well, if you aren't even going to look at me, I might as well go to Sango and Miroku's room, thank them both. While I slept earlier, Sango had tended to my bandages and changed them." Kagome explained then smiled pulling out a small drawing of a bruised up girl and a 'GET WELL SOON' sign at the bottom. "Shippo slipped this under the door." She said holding it out to Inuyasha. "I like it."
Inuyasha raised his eyes enough to look at the drawing. It was cute, completely and utterly Shippo, but it also made his heart wrench in pain. He swiftly moved to block the door from her. "Ah, you really don't want to do that. They. they have a lot to say to each other and they might just end up being very, very vocal about it."
Kagome cocked her head to the side and watched him suspiciously. "What do you mean...?"
"Well, since the crew thinks he's in there with you, they're going to be listening very..." He was cut off by Sango's voice, which was followed by a thump as something -or someone- was thrown up against the wall. He heard whispered voices, and there that was silence, but Inuyasha doubted that it would last very long. "Well, they're saying goodbye. I think."
Kagome looked down at her feet sadly. "I told Sango about tomorrow." Kagome confessed, and then shook her head. "I don't want... I had to tell her. But she looks content with him... It's sad that a married couple would have to break up. For whatever reason. The monk looks rather decent." Kagome explained looking behind Inuyasha towards the trapped door. "Do you think they'll miss each other?"
"Miroku knows too. Shippo also knows. I didn't want the little guy getting hurt accidentally." Only then did he register what she had said about married couples. "They are married, so I suppose they will. I hope that they will, because it would be sad if they didn't. But sometimes married people, or people who care about each other, have to break up, so that everything can be set straight again. Still, it would be nice if everyone could be like Cupid and Psyche."
Kagome took in what he said and registered that he hadn't whispered anything to her, as Miroku must've to Sango. He wasn't trying to make the time left be special. Steeling her will, Kagome passed her polished and sharpened arrowheads and picked up a piece of paper and pencil with her one good hand and it held it out to Inuyasha. "I need you to sketch out the layout of the ship for tomorrow." She said in an impersonal voice.
He took the pencil from her, and looked at her as he did so. The swelling had gone down, but to Inuyasha it looked worse than ever. He recoiled when his skin accidentally brushed hers, terrified that he'd hurt her without even meaning to. His palm still felt the warmth of her wrist in his grip, but his mind kept playing the scene in his head, and he could feel everything second if it all over again, each time feeling worse and worse. Inuyasha wanted to hold her and let himself go, to let him cry on her shoulder as she told him that it would be all right, even though it wouldn't, but he could no longer be sure of what was real and was the illusion of his mind. He sat down at the desk and began to sketch out the boat. Inuyasha's hand moved quickly, and he was surprisingly good, even if it was only a boat he was drawing. He pointed to two floors below them, then at the first floor. "This is where the girls are being kept, and this is where we are, here."
Kagome nodded and listened to the rest of his explanations. Long waves of black hair fell over her shoulder onto his as she listened. Leaning closer and asking her own questions, Kagome turned her face to him, his ears were so cute the way they twitched and the contrast so sharp between his white hair and his dark brows that she couldn't resist the memories of all the different facial expressions of his she had witnessed in the past few days. Placing her hand on the desk to stable herself Kagome leaned closer, her eyes memorizing the route. "So tomorrow we move through here and release them, then take this route to the top deck?" Kagome asked whispering softly so no one would hear them outside the room.
"Yup. And afterwards, when you're sailing away, the medical supplies are here. Demons regenerate, so there's not a lot. Same goes with the food. There will be enough to get you to the island where we picked up Miroku, if you follow his maps. There's some gold in the cubby hole, the places where I hid your bow, I don't need it anymore so you take it." From the corner of his eye he looked at the hair mingling on his shoulder. He could feel her breath on his ears. He managed to look up at her and give her a cocky smile. "Don't worry, it's not stolen."
"Uh huh, I find that hard to believe." Kagome said jokingly. Seeing his smile brought a smile to her face. "I like your smile." Kagome said softly, brushing away some white hair strands of his that got entangled in her own black ones. "Thank you for helping us out like this." Kagome said tearing her eyes away towards the piece of paper and folding it into a small square, hiding it in the pocket of her pants. Well, they were one of his red fire rat fur pants, but she was wearing them now. "I'm worried what will happen to that smile when Sesshomaru finds out." Kagome confided.
She'd pulled away. That was all right. If he kept looking at her, he knew the smile would have faded and his eyes would have filled with guilt. Inuyasha's shrug was light. He didn't really care anymore. "Don't worry Kagome, it'll still be there. Because I'll laugh right in his face, and I'll be laughing when his guards drag me away and I'll be laughing when they throw me in my grave." Inuyasha reflected on that. "I don't really know why I'll be laughing, but I will."
Kagome stared at him in something mixed between awe and horror. "How can you say that?" She demanded in a harsh whisper. "How can you talk like that?" Kagome demanded and then yanked back on one of his ears. "Take it back! Inuyasha! I won't let you do this!" Kagome shouted then forced him to look at her, when she pushed between him and the desk. "It won't be a laughing or smiling matter..." Kagome said staring at him and then coming to a simple decision. "You're coming with us."
"It's a nice dream, Kagome, but I can't. You know that as well as I." Damn it! How come everyone had to ask him that question? He rubbed the ear she'd pulled, but it didn't hurt. He swallowed hard as he looked at her, and tried to collect his thoughts. When they scattered everywhere, he sighed and put his head on her thigh, his action making her sit on the desk, with his head on her lap.
"Kagome, there's something you don't know about me. There's a reason why a Halfling like me has been allowed to live for as long as I have, and.." He trailed off. The words were too blunt that way. He'd just tell her the truth and hoped that she understood. "I demon named Naraku is sitting on my brother's throne. I have to go and kick him off of it. I have duties to uphold, and actions to pay the price for."
Kagome patted his head, her fingers passing through his long soft hair. When he finished speaking, Kagome took up the task of caressing his ears and massaging the area where they connected to his scalp. "You owe him nothing. You won't be able to help him if you help us. And even if you did, he'd just be using you. You don't owe him. N-..." Kagome stopped and took a breath, forcing his face up to look at her. "Not after what he did. You'd pay for your actions if you stayed with us." Kagome said, a pleading look crawling into her eyes now. "Stay with me... It can work." Kagome said out loud, as though if she mouthed it, it could come true.
He felt like he'd been turned to stone when her fingers touched him. He was all but purring again. Her fingertips rested on his cheek, and he turned to kiss them, his display of affection no harder then a floating feather. His eyes were like amber as he stared at her. "It's not for Sesshomaru that I need to do this, it's for everyone else. It's for my father, it's for my mother, for Shippo, and maybe even for me, but not for people like Sesshomaru. Never for him."
"Then why not take it for yourself?" Kagome asked her fingers curling at the feel of Inuyasha's lips on her palm. "You never spoke of your parents..." Kagome said softly, then nudged him away from the desk and carefully, shyly settled herself on his lap. Her head pillowed on his shoulder. "There has to be a way." Kagome whispered, not able to fight the point with him. Each had their own reasons and things they had to do. Kagome had to save those girls; he had a throne to take over. Without much thought about it, except for that of comfort offered him, Kagome kissed his neck lightly.
Inuyasha leaned back in the chair, his eyes closed, and gave a sigh of happiness. "Nobody with mortal, human, blood can sit on the throne. If I became human, I could stay here, but I don't think there's a way to do that. If there is, nobody's ever mentioned it." He looked over at her. "Would you like to hear about my parents? And I wouldn't mind telling you."
Kagome nodded to him, patiently still stroking his hair. Coaxing him into telling her. "I like you just fine the way you are. I don't see why you would look for a way about it." Kagome said then settled back, climbing back onto the desk so she could give him her full attention. "Tell me."
Fingers tapping the arms of the chair, he thought about where to start. "My mother and father met when she accidentally fell into our world. She was attacked by a demon, and he saved her, not knowing who -what- she was. Mother often said that he had been stained red with blood when she met him, but she wasn't scared, because she felt safe around him. Father, on the other hand, saw he'd saved a human and went on a cursing spree that was so bad Mother slapped him for it." Inuyasha chuckled as he recalled that tale. "And Father said it hurt too. "Whenever I asked him what had made him fall in love with her, he said that it was something in her eyes. He didn't have a name for it, he just said that it was something. Mother was safe from other demons because she was mated to the King. When I was born a commotion went through society that hasn't been rivaled yet. We had many happy years together, even Sesshomaru. When we were little we were almost inseparable, until he started learning what exactly I was and he started believing I was weak and pitiful. Eventually he became the asshole that he is, and I became me. More or less. "Then Naraku started trying to gain power, and succeeding. He used my Mother and myself to hurt Father's reputation, and soon members of the aristocracy or peasants were willing to revolt. It wasn't too long before they were addicted on it. So Naraku killed my parents and took over the throne, but instead of killing us, he banished us here, and here we've been for, oh, four years or more."
Kagome's brown eyes were dark and thoughtful. "It's a beautiful tale," Kagome whispered, her hand stopping its stroking midair. "Except for the end." Kagome said and then was quiet for a long time. "I understand why you have to go back." Kagome said with new power in her. "You need to get rid of Naraku and claim a debt owed you." Kagome said, her voice strong and powerful. "I'm sorry you led such a painful life." She said then bit her lower lip. "I have a confession," She said then rushed on. "After I finished polishing the arrowheads, sharpening them and meditating I snooped around and wanted to ask you about that hidden compartment. I saw a lock of hair in there. It's Kikyo's isn't it?"
"Yes," he replied, not angry that she had gone through there. If they really were married, then she had a right to know his secrets. And she accepted them well enough. Kagome hadn't even batted an eye when she found out he was a prince! The pride he felt when he looked at her just kept on growing, towered only by his guilt. "It's Kikyo's, but what were you doing snooping around? Shouldn't you be in bed resting, storing up your strength for tomorrow? You're gonna have a busy day."
Kagome blushed and looked around the room. Since she wasn't going to see him after tomorrow, what was the problem about being truthful? Kagome figured to herself. "I missed you." She explained. "I was worried about you, and I wanted to know about you." Kagome explained then tilted her head to the side watching him closely. "Tell me about her?" Kagome asked.
"Kikyo was.... a lot like you, actually. She was a priestess, and yes, she did look like you. She had the same color eyes as you, the same color hair. But her face was different. She was always so serious, while you... you can be, but you smile too. And when you do, just, everything seems better." He chuckled. "Kikyo fought me too. But, again, in a different way. Kikyo was... like lightning: fast, exotic, beautiful, but not a lot of fight after the initial bough. Where as... you're more like fire. You're passionate, and you seem to glow at times, and you never run out of a comeback or even a gentle word. Kikyo, she was everything we were always told humans weren't. She was independent, and pretty, and powerful. Just like you. I couldn't let something.... someone like that die. Again, just like you."
Kagome listened to his words and couldn't help the heat that touched her cheeks. "She sounds like someone I would've liked. I'm sorry you lost her." Kagome said, her eyes sad and grieving. "I'll light a candle for her at each shrine I come by. I promise." Kagome said knowing that it was a useless promise to make to a demon. But knowing that this Kikyo was a Priestess, it would mean something. "I'm sure she cared for you as much as you did for her." Kagome mused out loud then looked down at Inuyasha. "How is it Miroku married a human and no one said a word?" Kagome asked, suddenly flitching and touching the bite wound on her neck that had yet to heal completely.
"Because he was a human once himself. And because he was once a monk he wealds power over Sesshomaru. Were he to give up his gift and return to his previous state, he would know all about us, including how to destroy. Besides, it's possible that Sesshomaru doesn't believe it will last. Miroku likes women too much."
Kagome giggled, remembering the exchange between Sango and Miroku. "Oh, I'm sure she will tame him." Kagome joked and suddenly began laughing. The first steps of a full out nervous breakdown, she was sure. "I liked meeting many of the people. I'll be sad when they are gone and I am back in my own life." Kagome whispered, still slightly high from the laughing fit she had. "Tell me," Kagome began now curious and serious all at once. "Why did you kidnap me if you had no intention of killing or having sex with me?"
Inuyasha tapped her nose. "You already asked me that, and my answer is still the same. I don't know. But if this is the only way I could get to meet you, I'm glad I did."
Kagome thought about it before scrunching her nose and poking his own back. "Even though I am going to ache all over tomorrow, I agree." Kagome said, realizing how much the past few days have opened her eyes to the world, to the creatures in it and beyond it. "Inuyasha?" Kagome began now very shyly. "I need to ask you two more things and then I promise I'll shut up!" Kagome said then grinned like an imp. "Can I use you as target practice to shoot at? And did you enjoy our kisses?" The last she dropped on him suddenly without any connection to their previous topic of conversation.
Blinking, he sorted out which one to answer the first. As he thought of Kagome's lips on his, he felt a surge of longing move through his body. "You can use me as practice as long as you aim around me at not at me." He laughed nervously. "And yeah. I did enjoy them. I'd never felt anything that intense before in my whole life. But, I enjoyed your company more."
Kagome thought about it as she fingered the arrow on the desk. Its head glistening in the light. "I sharpened these, hopefully I'll be able to use them well." Kagome said looking at the two full quivers piled beside the desk. "Well, since you have my company, as well as my promise not to shoot at you, why aren't you kissing me?" Kagome asked, appalled at herself for being so blunt. But it was probably the shortage of time getting to her.
"Cause I... aw, hell, woman!" His chair toppled over as he stood up and took Kagome into his arms and covered her with kisses. Inuyasha made sure that his hold on her was gentle, even though he wanted to hold her like a drowning man holding on to his only life support. His kisses had never been so demanding, no, so begging for her to kiss and touch him back. Knowing that they had such little time together only made him want her -need her- even more.
So once again for God knows how many times, Kagome was caught off guard, in pure surprise with enough speed to knock the air out of her and later causing her to forget she even needed air to breath while on board this ship. His feelings were met with ones as strong as his own as they kissed. "I take back using you as target practice." She officially informed him in between kisses.
"Good," he growled. His face was as soft as his voice was ragged. Inuyasha lightly kissed her bruised cheek, his passions satiated by the feeling of her body against his, though they would only be still for a moment. What he would give for the power to make her never feel any pain again and take away all that he had caused her! He didn't need to think about whether or not she liked his kisses, he could feel it through her.
Kagome was caught somewhere between a purr and a giggle as he nuzzled her neck. Turning her head to the side she kissed his cheek, his ear, down his throat. Leaning back over the desk, Kagome watched Inuyasha thoughtfully. "Would you be offended if I offered you my blood again?" Kagome asked, for some odd reason feeling stronger then she had all day, as though her well of power had been replenished, what she didn't know was that is showed as well, her wounds began to heal.
He licked his swollen lips. She didn't know what it meant. There was a sudden conflict in his heart as he debated to tell her. He was leaving her! He couldn't tell her! It would only make parting all the more harder. Besides, it's not like it counted for anything in her world. And then, for a brief moment, there was a question of if Inuyasha even wanted to be the dominant one, as he thought of how his head had been in her lap and she had stroked his ears and his hair. His fingers toyed with Kagome's hair now.
Blinking his long lashed eyes, he made a sudden decision that probably meant something only to him and was definitely not the smartest thing he'd ever done. "No. I want you to drink my blood."
Kagome tore her mouth away from his neck and stared at him, a moan of pleasure cut off halfway. "What did you say?" She whispered, her mouth feeling dry and her stomaching lurching forward somehow at the thought of drinking blood. But it wasn't all that vile of a thought for some reason, Kagome only wondered how come it was that her body was reacting to it so, making her feel like she had run a marathon, her heartbeat picking up. "Why?" Kagome asked, her fingers petting down his smooth cheek.
"Because it's used to show dominance. You're my partner in crime, Kagome, not a slave or a hostage. You were never those things to me, not even for a second." He felt his face begin to burn. "I like to think of us as a team. Are we a team, Kagome?"
AN: SummerWind8585: Thank you! Congrats on watching! Whatchya think of it?
Storymind: LOL! Well, we love you too and are delighted you are enjoying the story so much! Just. Be gentler with the family there, would you? I mean. It's not good having them think you're insane. Still, we hope you squeal just as loudly to this chapter update! ^_^
Sierra: Yes he should. But since when has anything been simple between those two, ever? And we're glad you like the story!
AngelOfDiamonds: ::grins:: Thank you for the compliments!! They mean a lot to us, and we are always delighted to see new names added to the review list! As for who is going to rebel. Well, you'll just have to keep on reading to find out I guess! Can't give it all away now can we? ^_~
sweet little country girl1: ::blinks:: Well. Uh. ::leans over to PoF, make sure to keep Inuyasha's sword away from her. She might use it.:: Well, Sesshy is pretty with amazingly lovely hair. So that is a point for him! No? Besides, you can't kill them all off! What will we do without the token bad, yet pretty boy around?
Aewi: We are glad to hear you aren't disappointed and here is just another taste of our updating! Hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
Junsei Hyakuhei: Lol, we are! Hope you like how thing develop! Now, can you make that Inu face any happier I wonder.
Inu-Kyuuketsuki: Glad you like!! Here's the latest chapter, more to come! Hope you enjoy it as well!
Jess: Will do! ^_^ Glad your liking it! Hopefully, you will enjoy this one too!
Lz: Love is good! Keep on loving it! And read the chappie to answer your question! =P
Elsbeth: Thank you so much for your kind words!! They mean a lot to us! And we're glad you are enjoying the story so much! We aim to please, and here's a new chapter to hopefully do just that! Thank you once again for the compliments and here's a free Pizza slice on us for you to read with! Hm, maybe I should switch to Pizza instead of strawberries. Sounds yummy. Mmm.. Pizza. Gone off track there. Anyway! Glad you like!
Milady Goddess: As you asked! We are updating! Glad you like!
Iz and jess thank you! We're glad you like!
Thank you to all the rest who reviewed and are reading this story, we're delighted you are enjoying it and hope you keep on having a blast reading it!
Also, a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! Even though it's the year of the Monkey we wish everyone a happy Inu filled year!
Enjoy the new chappie! Please review ^_^ Ja ne!
* * * *
Kagome sat on the bed and smiled softly when she saw him come in. She was wearing his clothes again, but the bandages could still be seen. Especially the one around her wrist. "Did everything go well?" Kagome asked with genuine concern as she got up and strode towards him once he was in the room and the door was closed.
All of a sudden the roles were reversed. He kept his eyes to the ground, unable to look at her. "As well as could be expected," he said. "But Miroku was the one who really pulled everything off. I owe him a lot. Like for saving your life." But he said the last sentence in his mind only. Feeling her come close, he felt like a cringing animal. He didn't think he could look her in the eyes again.
Kagome kept her distance and watched him for a long moment, her good hand closing over her broken wrist protectively. "I didn't realize my life was in need of saving." Kagome said watching him like he was a puzzle that she was trying to put together. "My face isn't that badly bruised, the swelling went down, you can look at me."
"No," he slowly uttered it, as if defying Kagome hurt him. "No, I can't." It was enough that he could already smell her. She seemed to be everywhere. He thought back to what Miroku had said, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. Okay, so she didn't hate him, but telling her that they were married might change that, and he didn't want to tell her anything when they only had a single, precious day left together.
"Then what can you do beside stand against the door?" Kagome asked with an exasperated sigh. They didn't have more then a day left together and he was acting this way. Looking down at her wrist, Kagome blew a strand of stray hair out of her eyes. "Well, if you aren't even going to look at me, I might as well go to Sango and Miroku's room, thank them both. While I slept earlier, Sango had tended to my bandages and changed them." Kagome explained then smiled pulling out a small drawing of a bruised up girl and a 'GET WELL SOON' sign at the bottom. "Shippo slipped this under the door." She said holding it out to Inuyasha. "I like it."
Inuyasha raised his eyes enough to look at the drawing. It was cute, completely and utterly Shippo, but it also made his heart wrench in pain. He swiftly moved to block the door from her. "Ah, you really don't want to do that. They. they have a lot to say to each other and they might just end up being very, very vocal about it."
Kagome cocked her head to the side and watched him suspiciously. "What do you mean...?"
"Well, since the crew thinks he's in there with you, they're going to be listening very..." He was cut off by Sango's voice, which was followed by a thump as something -or someone- was thrown up against the wall. He heard whispered voices, and there that was silence, but Inuyasha doubted that it would last very long. "Well, they're saying goodbye. I think."
Kagome looked down at her feet sadly. "I told Sango about tomorrow." Kagome confessed, and then shook her head. "I don't want... I had to tell her. But she looks content with him... It's sad that a married couple would have to break up. For whatever reason. The monk looks rather decent." Kagome explained looking behind Inuyasha towards the trapped door. "Do you think they'll miss each other?"
"Miroku knows too. Shippo also knows. I didn't want the little guy getting hurt accidentally." Only then did he register what she had said about married couples. "They are married, so I suppose they will. I hope that they will, because it would be sad if they didn't. But sometimes married people, or people who care about each other, have to break up, so that everything can be set straight again. Still, it would be nice if everyone could be like Cupid and Psyche."
Kagome took in what he said and registered that he hadn't whispered anything to her, as Miroku must've to Sango. He wasn't trying to make the time left be special. Steeling her will, Kagome passed her polished and sharpened arrowheads and picked up a piece of paper and pencil with her one good hand and it held it out to Inuyasha. "I need you to sketch out the layout of the ship for tomorrow." She said in an impersonal voice.
He took the pencil from her, and looked at her as he did so. The swelling had gone down, but to Inuyasha it looked worse than ever. He recoiled when his skin accidentally brushed hers, terrified that he'd hurt her without even meaning to. His palm still felt the warmth of her wrist in his grip, but his mind kept playing the scene in his head, and he could feel everything second if it all over again, each time feeling worse and worse. Inuyasha wanted to hold her and let himself go, to let him cry on her shoulder as she told him that it would be all right, even though it wouldn't, but he could no longer be sure of what was real and was the illusion of his mind. He sat down at the desk and began to sketch out the boat. Inuyasha's hand moved quickly, and he was surprisingly good, even if it was only a boat he was drawing. He pointed to two floors below them, then at the first floor. "This is where the girls are being kept, and this is where we are, here."
Kagome nodded and listened to the rest of his explanations. Long waves of black hair fell over her shoulder onto his as she listened. Leaning closer and asking her own questions, Kagome turned her face to him, his ears were so cute the way they twitched and the contrast so sharp between his white hair and his dark brows that she couldn't resist the memories of all the different facial expressions of his she had witnessed in the past few days. Placing her hand on the desk to stable herself Kagome leaned closer, her eyes memorizing the route. "So tomorrow we move through here and release them, then take this route to the top deck?" Kagome asked whispering softly so no one would hear them outside the room.
"Yup. And afterwards, when you're sailing away, the medical supplies are here. Demons regenerate, so there's not a lot. Same goes with the food. There will be enough to get you to the island where we picked up Miroku, if you follow his maps. There's some gold in the cubby hole, the places where I hid your bow, I don't need it anymore so you take it." From the corner of his eye he looked at the hair mingling on his shoulder. He could feel her breath on his ears. He managed to look up at her and give her a cocky smile. "Don't worry, it's not stolen."
"Uh huh, I find that hard to believe." Kagome said jokingly. Seeing his smile brought a smile to her face. "I like your smile." Kagome said softly, brushing away some white hair strands of his that got entangled in her own black ones. "Thank you for helping us out like this." Kagome said tearing her eyes away towards the piece of paper and folding it into a small square, hiding it in the pocket of her pants. Well, they were one of his red fire rat fur pants, but she was wearing them now. "I'm worried what will happen to that smile when Sesshomaru finds out." Kagome confided.
She'd pulled away. That was all right. If he kept looking at her, he knew the smile would have faded and his eyes would have filled with guilt. Inuyasha's shrug was light. He didn't really care anymore. "Don't worry Kagome, it'll still be there. Because I'll laugh right in his face, and I'll be laughing when his guards drag me away and I'll be laughing when they throw me in my grave." Inuyasha reflected on that. "I don't really know why I'll be laughing, but I will."
Kagome stared at him in something mixed between awe and horror. "How can you say that?" She demanded in a harsh whisper. "How can you talk like that?" Kagome demanded and then yanked back on one of his ears. "Take it back! Inuyasha! I won't let you do this!" Kagome shouted then forced him to look at her, when she pushed between him and the desk. "It won't be a laughing or smiling matter..." Kagome said staring at him and then coming to a simple decision. "You're coming with us."
"It's a nice dream, Kagome, but I can't. You know that as well as I." Damn it! How come everyone had to ask him that question? He rubbed the ear she'd pulled, but it didn't hurt. He swallowed hard as he looked at her, and tried to collect his thoughts. When they scattered everywhere, he sighed and put his head on her thigh, his action making her sit on the desk, with his head on her lap.
"Kagome, there's something you don't know about me. There's a reason why a Halfling like me has been allowed to live for as long as I have, and.." He trailed off. The words were too blunt that way. He'd just tell her the truth and hoped that she understood. "I demon named Naraku is sitting on my brother's throne. I have to go and kick him off of it. I have duties to uphold, and actions to pay the price for."
Kagome patted his head, her fingers passing through his long soft hair. When he finished speaking, Kagome took up the task of caressing his ears and massaging the area where they connected to his scalp. "You owe him nothing. You won't be able to help him if you help us. And even if you did, he'd just be using you. You don't owe him. N-..." Kagome stopped and took a breath, forcing his face up to look at her. "Not after what he did. You'd pay for your actions if you stayed with us." Kagome said, a pleading look crawling into her eyes now. "Stay with me... It can work." Kagome said out loud, as though if she mouthed it, it could come true.
He felt like he'd been turned to stone when her fingers touched him. He was all but purring again. Her fingertips rested on his cheek, and he turned to kiss them, his display of affection no harder then a floating feather. His eyes were like amber as he stared at her. "It's not for Sesshomaru that I need to do this, it's for everyone else. It's for my father, it's for my mother, for Shippo, and maybe even for me, but not for people like Sesshomaru. Never for him."
"Then why not take it for yourself?" Kagome asked her fingers curling at the feel of Inuyasha's lips on her palm. "You never spoke of your parents..." Kagome said softly, then nudged him away from the desk and carefully, shyly settled herself on his lap. Her head pillowed on his shoulder. "There has to be a way." Kagome whispered, not able to fight the point with him. Each had their own reasons and things they had to do. Kagome had to save those girls; he had a throne to take over. Without much thought about it, except for that of comfort offered him, Kagome kissed his neck lightly.
Inuyasha leaned back in the chair, his eyes closed, and gave a sigh of happiness. "Nobody with mortal, human, blood can sit on the throne. If I became human, I could stay here, but I don't think there's a way to do that. If there is, nobody's ever mentioned it." He looked over at her. "Would you like to hear about my parents? And I wouldn't mind telling you."
Kagome nodded to him, patiently still stroking his hair. Coaxing him into telling her. "I like you just fine the way you are. I don't see why you would look for a way about it." Kagome said then settled back, climbing back onto the desk so she could give him her full attention. "Tell me."
Fingers tapping the arms of the chair, he thought about where to start. "My mother and father met when she accidentally fell into our world. She was attacked by a demon, and he saved her, not knowing who -what- she was. Mother often said that he had been stained red with blood when she met him, but she wasn't scared, because she felt safe around him. Father, on the other hand, saw he'd saved a human and went on a cursing spree that was so bad Mother slapped him for it." Inuyasha chuckled as he recalled that tale. "And Father said it hurt too. "Whenever I asked him what had made him fall in love with her, he said that it was something in her eyes. He didn't have a name for it, he just said that it was something. Mother was safe from other demons because she was mated to the King. When I was born a commotion went through society that hasn't been rivaled yet. We had many happy years together, even Sesshomaru. When we were little we were almost inseparable, until he started learning what exactly I was and he started believing I was weak and pitiful. Eventually he became the asshole that he is, and I became me. More or less. "Then Naraku started trying to gain power, and succeeding. He used my Mother and myself to hurt Father's reputation, and soon members of the aristocracy or peasants were willing to revolt. It wasn't too long before they were addicted on it. So Naraku killed my parents and took over the throne, but instead of killing us, he banished us here, and here we've been for, oh, four years or more."
Kagome's brown eyes were dark and thoughtful. "It's a beautiful tale," Kagome whispered, her hand stopping its stroking midair. "Except for the end." Kagome said and then was quiet for a long time. "I understand why you have to go back." Kagome said with new power in her. "You need to get rid of Naraku and claim a debt owed you." Kagome said, her voice strong and powerful. "I'm sorry you led such a painful life." She said then bit her lower lip. "I have a confession," She said then rushed on. "After I finished polishing the arrowheads, sharpening them and meditating I snooped around and wanted to ask you about that hidden compartment. I saw a lock of hair in there. It's Kikyo's isn't it?"
"Yes," he replied, not angry that she had gone through there. If they really were married, then she had a right to know his secrets. And she accepted them well enough. Kagome hadn't even batted an eye when she found out he was a prince! The pride he felt when he looked at her just kept on growing, towered only by his guilt. "It's Kikyo's, but what were you doing snooping around? Shouldn't you be in bed resting, storing up your strength for tomorrow? You're gonna have a busy day."
Kagome blushed and looked around the room. Since she wasn't going to see him after tomorrow, what was the problem about being truthful? Kagome figured to herself. "I missed you." She explained. "I was worried about you, and I wanted to know about you." Kagome explained then tilted her head to the side watching him closely. "Tell me about her?" Kagome asked.
"Kikyo was.... a lot like you, actually. She was a priestess, and yes, she did look like you. She had the same color eyes as you, the same color hair. But her face was different. She was always so serious, while you... you can be, but you smile too. And when you do, just, everything seems better." He chuckled. "Kikyo fought me too. But, again, in a different way. Kikyo was... like lightning: fast, exotic, beautiful, but not a lot of fight after the initial bough. Where as... you're more like fire. You're passionate, and you seem to glow at times, and you never run out of a comeback or even a gentle word. Kikyo, she was everything we were always told humans weren't. She was independent, and pretty, and powerful. Just like you. I couldn't let something.... someone like that die. Again, just like you."
Kagome listened to his words and couldn't help the heat that touched her cheeks. "She sounds like someone I would've liked. I'm sorry you lost her." Kagome said, her eyes sad and grieving. "I'll light a candle for her at each shrine I come by. I promise." Kagome said knowing that it was a useless promise to make to a demon. But knowing that this Kikyo was a Priestess, it would mean something. "I'm sure she cared for you as much as you did for her." Kagome mused out loud then looked down at Inuyasha. "How is it Miroku married a human and no one said a word?" Kagome asked, suddenly flitching and touching the bite wound on her neck that had yet to heal completely.
"Because he was a human once himself. And because he was once a monk he wealds power over Sesshomaru. Were he to give up his gift and return to his previous state, he would know all about us, including how to destroy. Besides, it's possible that Sesshomaru doesn't believe it will last. Miroku likes women too much."
Kagome giggled, remembering the exchange between Sango and Miroku. "Oh, I'm sure she will tame him." Kagome joked and suddenly began laughing. The first steps of a full out nervous breakdown, she was sure. "I liked meeting many of the people. I'll be sad when they are gone and I am back in my own life." Kagome whispered, still slightly high from the laughing fit she had. "Tell me," Kagome began now curious and serious all at once. "Why did you kidnap me if you had no intention of killing or having sex with me?"
Inuyasha tapped her nose. "You already asked me that, and my answer is still the same. I don't know. But if this is the only way I could get to meet you, I'm glad I did."
Kagome thought about it before scrunching her nose and poking his own back. "Even though I am going to ache all over tomorrow, I agree." Kagome said, realizing how much the past few days have opened her eyes to the world, to the creatures in it and beyond it. "Inuyasha?" Kagome began now very shyly. "I need to ask you two more things and then I promise I'll shut up!" Kagome said then grinned like an imp. "Can I use you as target practice to shoot at? And did you enjoy our kisses?" The last she dropped on him suddenly without any connection to their previous topic of conversation.
Blinking, he sorted out which one to answer the first. As he thought of Kagome's lips on his, he felt a surge of longing move through his body. "You can use me as practice as long as you aim around me at not at me." He laughed nervously. "And yeah. I did enjoy them. I'd never felt anything that intense before in my whole life. But, I enjoyed your company more."
Kagome thought about it as she fingered the arrow on the desk. Its head glistening in the light. "I sharpened these, hopefully I'll be able to use them well." Kagome said looking at the two full quivers piled beside the desk. "Well, since you have my company, as well as my promise not to shoot at you, why aren't you kissing me?" Kagome asked, appalled at herself for being so blunt. But it was probably the shortage of time getting to her.
"Cause I... aw, hell, woman!" His chair toppled over as he stood up and took Kagome into his arms and covered her with kisses. Inuyasha made sure that his hold on her was gentle, even though he wanted to hold her like a drowning man holding on to his only life support. His kisses had never been so demanding, no, so begging for her to kiss and touch him back. Knowing that they had such little time together only made him want her -need her- even more.
So once again for God knows how many times, Kagome was caught off guard, in pure surprise with enough speed to knock the air out of her and later causing her to forget she even needed air to breath while on board this ship. His feelings were met with ones as strong as his own as they kissed. "I take back using you as target practice." She officially informed him in between kisses.
"Good," he growled. His face was as soft as his voice was ragged. Inuyasha lightly kissed her bruised cheek, his passions satiated by the feeling of her body against his, though they would only be still for a moment. What he would give for the power to make her never feel any pain again and take away all that he had caused her! He didn't need to think about whether or not she liked his kisses, he could feel it through her.
Kagome was caught somewhere between a purr and a giggle as he nuzzled her neck. Turning her head to the side she kissed his cheek, his ear, down his throat. Leaning back over the desk, Kagome watched Inuyasha thoughtfully. "Would you be offended if I offered you my blood again?" Kagome asked, for some odd reason feeling stronger then she had all day, as though her well of power had been replenished, what she didn't know was that is showed as well, her wounds began to heal.
He licked his swollen lips. She didn't know what it meant. There was a sudden conflict in his heart as he debated to tell her. He was leaving her! He couldn't tell her! It would only make parting all the more harder. Besides, it's not like it counted for anything in her world. And then, for a brief moment, there was a question of if Inuyasha even wanted to be the dominant one, as he thought of how his head had been in her lap and she had stroked his ears and his hair. His fingers toyed with Kagome's hair now.
Blinking his long lashed eyes, he made a sudden decision that probably meant something only to him and was definitely not the smartest thing he'd ever done. "No. I want you to drink my blood."
Kagome tore her mouth away from his neck and stared at him, a moan of pleasure cut off halfway. "What did you say?" She whispered, her mouth feeling dry and her stomaching lurching forward somehow at the thought of drinking blood. But it wasn't all that vile of a thought for some reason, Kagome only wondered how come it was that her body was reacting to it so, making her feel like she had run a marathon, her heartbeat picking up. "Why?" Kagome asked, her fingers petting down his smooth cheek.
"Because it's used to show dominance. You're my partner in crime, Kagome, not a slave or a hostage. You were never those things to me, not even for a second." He felt his face begin to burn. "I like to think of us as a team. Are we a team, Kagome?"