AN: Last installment. Finally. Comments and constructive criticism are welcome, but please keep your nasty remarks, your ill will, and your rotten vegetables to yourself. ^.^
Disclaimer: Inuyasha's not mine.
Part Three
Kagome pulls back slightly to look into his golden eyes, noting the last crimson vestiges receding quietly. Something worked. She's not quite sure what, but she's been successful once more in restoring her hanyou's sanity. He's so innocently sincere she can't help but giggle. It's totally uncalled for, but she needs to release her tension before it overtakes her. Slumping slightly to rest her forehead against the junction of his neck and shoulder, she giggles, then laughs, the light, joyous sound echoing in the night air, boggling poor Inuyasha.
Sniffing indignantly, Inuyasha watches her strange demonstration, wondering if he's off the hook, staring strangely at the girl. Has she lost her mind? One hand extricates from the other to rise up her back, caress the nape of her neck, but, looking over her shoulder, he realizes she's still quite nude, quickly reclasping his hands to protect her decency – except from himself. He rather likes the view, and hesitates to change the situation. Instead, he nudges her in an attempt to suggest she return to reality.
"Kagome."
The girl's eyes widen to see Inuyasha staring so intently, for a moment silent as she holds her breath. Then her laughter begins anew, louder than before, having entirely forgotten the delicate nature of her situation. Slightly offended by this, a furry white ear twitches. Inuyasha removes his arms from around her and quickly gives her a light shove, sending her backwards on her own, stumbling toward her clothes. That evidently produces a very different reaction. Backpedaling, Kagome looks down, blushing fiercely to remember that she's fully nude and not alone. Gasping, she bends down, swooping her clothing into her arms, though she hasn't at all forgiven the hanyou for how this happened.
"Osuwari!"
To Inuyasha's chagrin, Kagome hasn't forgotten how she'd gotten into this predicament, nor would he go unpunished – and subjugation hurt far worse than the slap she'd initially intended. Growling, the hanyou lifts his face from the dirt.
"Ki–"
Even as angered as he is, he can't finish cursing the girl, who'd paused in redressing herself, pain jolting through her arm. Pain and shame mingle over her face, and on sheer determination alone she'd been able to return herself to a state of semi-decency, though she cannot continue any further, having reached her pain threshold. In his rough treatment earlier, Inuyasha had pulled her arm clear out of joint, and even the most minute of movement grinds tender nerves between tightly pinched bone. She pales, unaccustomed to such pain.
Immediately, Inuyasha returns to her, once more heavily penitent for his semi-conscious deeds. He smoothes the white cloth over her abdomen, hiding his clouding eyes, unable to keep his thoughts as white as the cloth in this tender situation. He draws one claw back up the cloth to her waist, noting how her ribcage lifts, muscles tensing beneath his touch. Interesting. With his head bowed, he lifts his eyes.
"Tie it here?"
Kagome swallows. In mere moments, the situation has irrevocably changed. "Y-yes." The word is foreign, hesitant, almost as if answering an unvoiced, entirely different question, one both are aware of but too ashamed to ask. Kagome bites her lip as Inuyasha languidly draws his hands around her waist, pressing his palms against the cloth as he reaches her back, flattening the crimson hakama panel. Picking up the two ends of the tie on either end, he encircles her waist, lifting one tie to his teeth for safekeeping in order to free one of his hands. Smoothing the front of the hakama over her tense stomach, Inuyasha retrieves the slightly moist tie, tying it tightly, pausing, surprised, as a slender, trembling finger reaches beneath the material, loosening it slightly.
She does, after all, need to breathe. Inuyasha chuckles, a soft, breathy sound, and finishes the knot, securing it in place before sweeping her impulsively into his arms, holding her tight to his chest. Caught wholly off-guard, Kagome looks up sharply, lips parting slightly in surprise, eyes widening, trapped in golden depths.
"You're hurt. I'm taking you home." Offering a quick explanation for his actions, Inuyasha takes to flight, mingled clothing rustling in the breeze as he leaps forward, landing in sprinting motion, heading not for Kaede's hut, but for the bone eater's well.
Behind them, a tree branch rustles slightly. The silent bystander turns with a shake of the head and retreats in the opposite direction, muttering in disbelief.
"Idiot. . . ."
AN: It's done. What do you think?
hanyou:
half-demon
osuwari: sit
ki—:
rudimentary beginnings to an expletive; those of you who are familiar with the
term know where I was going
hakama: split-leg garment resembling wide-legged, flowing pants
owari: end
Anna: Wai, I'm glad you read it! Thanks so much!
Part three came out a bit late due to the fact that I was trying to catch up on
sleep all day today. I've lost a lot of sleep lately due to an adverse
reaction between two of my meds, but I did finally talk to my doc about it, and
it's getting better now. Three's out, though, so I do hope you'll read and
enjoy the rest. ^.^
mkh2: Beggars can't be choosers, but the suggestion for another story
might be taken up at another time. Unless, of course, you want to write it
first, in which case, go forth with my blessings! ...Just be sure to email
me a link so I can read it, ne? ^.~
BakaBokken: Didn't mean what? Do tell. I'm sorry to hear the
third part isn't loading well. I've actually had trouble accessing it
myself, and I'm looking into that matter. Rest assured, if you're reading
this, either I figured it out or it fixed itself. ^.~