"Musings of a Hanyou" by Halicarnassus
Summary: Inuyasha ponders his life as a half-demon and his complicated love life.
Canon. Angst. One shot. A mushy Inuyasha.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi
Half-breed. Worthless. Weak.
Words Inuyasha heard all his life. Words that cut deeper than any blade or claw. His mother tried to shield him from such words and from those who uttered them. But the most she could do was cry for him. And when she died, he was left alone to defend himself. So he survived by fighting back with his claws and later, with his sword.
He also developed a sharp tongue and a tough exterior. He cut others with his words before they could hurt him. But there was a price to pay. By being always so defensive, he alienated everyone. He was lonely. So lonely.
When he met Kikyo, he felt a bond with her. She also considered herself an outsider. Because she was a priestess tasked with protecting the Shikon no Tama, she could not live the life of a normal woman. Love, marriage and family were denied her.
They turned to each other in their loneliness. It was inevitable that they fell in love. Kikyo, however, could not accept his demon side and wanted him to become human. To please her, he agreed to make such a wish on the Shikon. Then Naraku's machinations turned them against each other.
The pain of her alleged betrayal gnawed at his soul. He promised never to let his guard down again.
Then she came.
Because Kagome looked like Kikyo, possessed the same soul and carried within her body the Shikon no Tama, many called her the reincarnation of the priestess. He himself made the mistake of assuming she was just a younger version of the woman he once loved. But the time traveler differed greatly from Kikyo. She trusted and accepted others easily.
For the first time in Inuyasha's life, someone besides his mother accepted him for who he was. She didn't care if he was a half-breed, didn't shy away from being with him. She even liked his dog ears. She didn't take any crap from him either, subduing him with the necklace whenever he irked her or crossed the line. But she willingly placed her life under his protection; her belief in him never wavering.
Little by little he learned to trust another being. He became accustomed to seeing her by his side. He dared to hope again, but the Gods were cruel.
A vengeful Kikyo was reborn and reminded him of a debt that can only be paid with his life. At times, he caught glimpses of the woman he loved in her eyes. Did he still have feelings for Kikyo? Yes, but his heart also yearned for another.
Inuyasha looked at the moon from his perch on an old tree and sighed. He shouldn't think about such things when the search for the jewel shards was far from over and that bastard Naraku still lives. But he missed Kagome every time she returned to her own era. He even missed arguing with the woman. But he'd die before he would admit that to her.
He jumped down from the tree, looked around to make sure Miroku, Sango or Shippo weren't spying on him and ran to the well. He jumped in and emerged in modern day Tokyo. Kagome was tossing and turning in her sleep when he entered her room through the window.
He knelt beside the bed and ran his hand through her hair, trying to soothe her. She relaxed, mumbled and turned over on her side. He heard what she said though, "Inuyasha ... I love you."
Blushing, he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He would stay with her as long as the fates would allow.