Hey! Okay, so how was that for an evil cliffhanger? I know, I know.... But I just had to do it. Okay, well as I sit here and write my story, I'm listening to Avril Lavigne's new CD. (Under My Skin) My favorite song right now is Nobodys Home. It's such a good song, and for anyone that likes pop, and girls trashin' boys (Yeah!), then you should check her out. I mean, guys trash girls all the time, now we are getting back our revenge. Mwahaha!
Gomen, gomen. I had a moment. Well, anyways, here it goes. Hope you like!
ShortPoet: Nope, your not reading too much into it. Frankly, im glad you understand my motive. Yes, Kagome is worried that Inuyasha will suffer the same fate as Bobby, but that when he does, she wont be able to tell him how she feels. In this chapter, I wind through all their emotions tagged to each other, and in the next, it gets much more detailed. I hope you like it. Oh yes, and I read your Chapter 23 E-Mail, and I will send you an e- mail about it pretty soon.
Angeloflight: I like your name. Poetic. Yes, I know, evil cliffy. Mwahaha! Sorry, but this one is worse....it might not be, but that's up to you to say. Let me know how you like this chapter. Thanks for your review!
MichelleAnnSummers: aww! pats back there there....tee hee, im glad you like my story. Im glad you like it, here is the next chapter, let me know what you think, Hope you like it!
PG-13
Chapter Eleven
Love Fly's
"Do you think they are getting along?"
Sango sat on a ledge, over looking the lake. Miroku sat behind her, his arms around her waist in a backwards hug. She was leaning against his chest; he was stroking her arm. They looked at the lake that was shining from the full moons' light. The air was warm, the area smelling of Sakura blossoms as they fell and wrapped around the two companions with the wind. She felt Miroku shift slightly and she moved her head to his shoulder, then turning it to face him.
"We're talking about Kagome and Inuyasha here, Sango. What do you think?" He smirked at her and she laughed softly.
"Yes, I guess your right. They never get along, but he didn't seem to mind going with her. As much as he complains about the smells in her era." He scratched the back of his neck. "Actually, I believe that they might reach an understanding," He paused for a moment. "At least, an understanding."
"Or she might just 'sit' him!" Shippo piped up beside them, a grin on his face, and a lollipop in his mouth.
They both stood stunned at what she just said. There, she did it. She had just voiced one of her deepest secrets. And she voiced it to Inuyasha. He stood, shock and bewilderment in his eyes, and Kagome pressed her lips together, determined not to say anything else.
"You.... um," Inuyasha averted his eyes and Kagome took a step backwards, making him look back up at her. She was glad for the darkness, so he couldn't see her blush. She held her hands to her side, clenched in fists. She knew this would happen.
"Forget what I said, Inuyasha. It doesn't matter. What I feel doesn't matter. You've made your decision and I told you I would stay with you. Well, I am. As much as I can't stand it, I am." She looked up at him; lighting flashing again, and he saw the red tint in her cheeks, and the pain in her eyes. But he had a nagging feeling the pain wasn't because of that kid Bobo, or Baba, or Bobby, whatever.
But he didn't know what to say. She was right; he had made up his mind already. He watched, as Kagome walked past him, the rain pouring hard, and running down her face, neck, and arms. He caught the slightest scent of salt water; the rain tampered his nose.
He turned quietly, and watched her small silhouette walk towards the 'car' thing they came in, watched her get in, and then watched her leave. Half of him told him to go after her, take her in his arms, and tell her how he felt, but the other half told him he had already made his decision, that he needed to think first.
But not here.
He looked around, through the heavy rain, and saw a little house lookin' thing in the middle of the cemetery. He walked into the mausoleum, completely unaware of the use for the building. He walked down the winding stone stairs, and sat down against a stone carving of a similar lookin' thing they had just put in the ground a couple hours ago. He shrugged and leaned against it. His mind racing.
"Yes! I did love him! But not in the way I love you!" Her words echoed in his mind, and he closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the stone. Kami, how long had he wondered if she felt the same way, he thought.
"Do not forget, Inuyasha. Your heart and soul is not yours to give. They belong to me, now."
"Maybe, but my promises are mind to give, and I promised Kagome I would stay with her until we got all the jewel shards. And that I would protect her. My heart and soul may be yours, but my promises aint."
A conversation he had with Kikyo echoed behind his feelings. He was torn. One woman he loved, was dead because of him. And because of him, she was re- made to roam this earth until she decided to return to hell. Which she wouldn't do until he agreed to go with her.
She walked around his era, with only hatred, bitterness and anger, for Kagome. She had tried two times to kill her, once by her own hands, the next, with Naraku's. When she was alive, she would never have tried to kill another pure soul; which Kagome is. But then, it was his fault she died. Or was it?, a nagging voice in his head seemed to laugh at him.
Naraku had tricked them. Inuyasha never killed her. But she did try to kill him. Their love wasn't enough of a bridge for them fifty-years ago, how was it to say, that it would be now? His love for her had dulled. The Kikyo he once knew was gone. And in her place was an evil Hell version of the woman he once loved.
Kagome. Kami, now this girl had him mystified. When he first met her, he knew it was going to be rough. He felt an invisible bond form between them, and for some reason, he couldn't and didn't want to, shake it away.
She accepted him the way he was. She didn't try to make him change. She accepted the fact that he was a hanyou, and she didn't try to change his decision of becoming a youkai. But gradually, with time, he started to wonder if that was what he truly wanted. He had turned youkai three times, and all three times, Kagome brought him back somehow. All three times, he had made an attempt at her life, and yet, she stood by him.
Then that day at the well. He thought he would never see her again. But then he saw her sitting on the edge. In the sunlight, her expression was lighted, and burned into his mind forever. Sadness, but happiness at the same time. Relief, and disappointment. Then when she looked up at him, he saw her; her vulnerability, her innocence. And something pieced together in him when she asked if he would allow her to stay. With him. Even thought he had made his decision. To this day, he still had no idea what that strange feeling was. But he in the back of his mind, and deep in his heart; he knew..
Now, he looked up at the high ceiling of the mausoleum, the twisting stairs, the spinning decorations on the steps as they climbed higher and higher, to the door he had walked in from. He knew he had a decision to make.
Kikyo was gone, and if she had never met him, she would have never died. So in a round about way, she was dead because of him. He stood up. He knew what he should do. He always did, and in his mind, that's always what he knew he would do.
No matter if it hurt the woman he loved now and forever, he knew it had to be this way.
Kagome was silent on the car ride home. The black limousine that she rode in had been sent to her house to pick her up, by Bobby's parents. The scent of leather hung in the air, and she breathed deeply. Her nerves were still frazzled. Her dress clung to her, and its wet material made her squeak every time she moved. After about that happening four times, the black sliding glass that had kept her from view of the driver went down, and Joe's face was visible in the rearview mirror.
"Are you all right, Madame Kagome?" Joe was a very sweet guy of about forty that the Marcino family had known for years and years.
"I'm fine, thanks Joe. The rain kind of snuck up on me." She smiled sheepishly at him. They stopped at a red light, and he leaned over, towards the passenger seat. He straightened back up and handed her a bag of clothes.
"Madame Melanie had a feeling it would rain during the burial, so she told me to give you these clothes if you got wet." He smiled and handed them to her. She took them, and after a thank you, the sliding black glass went up again.
She looked in the bag: a pair of gray sweat pants she left at his house was there, along with a deep red sports tank, that revealed her flat stomach, socks and.... She felt tears pool in her eyes again. Gingerly, she reached in the bag, and pulled out the silver frame. There was a black and white picture of her and Bobby. She was wearing the sweat pants and tank; he was wearing his own gray sweat pants and a deep blue shirt. Although the colors couldn't be distinguished in the picture, it was in her mind, where she remembered what he was wearing.
Bobby stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist, his chin on her shoulder. Her arms were crossed, her fingers linking with his. They both smiled sheepishly for the camera. A bunch of their friends were scattered in the background. His mother had taken this picture when she and a bunch of his friend went to his house for an all-night party.
She quietly put the picture frame on the seat beside her, and slipped out of her dress and stockings. Quickly pulling the gray sweat pants on, along with the red tank and socks, she placed her wet things back into the bag, and took the photo in her hands again. She smiled. She really did love him. In some way, she felt a romantic love with him, but the one she felt towards Inuyasha seemed different. She put the picture frame on top of the bag, setting the things beside her.
Now, she looked out the heavily tinted window, her fingers absently following raindrops as they streaked across and down her window. Although the windows were heavily tinted, she saw the enormous dark clouds that were forming in the sky. Her gaze lingered on a funnel cloud, but she wasn't scared. They never had a tornado before, just a lot of funnel clouds.
"Yes! I did love him! But not in the way I love you!"
Her own words rang through her head. The shocked expression on his face ran across her minds eye like a broken film.
I was right. He doesn't feel the same way. The only person he wants, ever wanted, is Kikyo. I never should have fooled myself in thinking that I could change his mind.
She blinked back her tears of heartbreak, determined not to cry anymore. It was just a waste of time. As her thoughts ceased, and she wearily looked out the window, she noticed that they were at her house. Stifling a yawn, she looked at the place she called home. The many steps up to the shrine looked long, but she welcomed the more time to think. The car stopped and Joe got out, going to her door, and opening it for her.
She got out, and he saw the expression on her face, the unshed tears in her eyes. He smiled gently, and shut the door.
"Thanks, Joe. I'm really sorry, I know how well you and Bobby got along." Kagome forced her voice to come out straight and even, and almost sighed in relief when it did. Joe smiled again.
"Madame Kagome, I am sorry for you as well." He quickly leaned forward, giving her a brief hug and kissing both her rain-streaked cheeks.
She kissed his cheek back; he was from France after all. It was just a friendly gesture. "Will you be all right to drive back to your house? Or would you like to come in? I don't want you to get stuck in this storm."
"I will be fine, Madame Kagome. But thank you for the invitation." He smiled gently.
She shivered slightly as the wind blew harsh and cold, and mentally cursed herself for putting the mid-drift baring shirt on. The rain had stopped but the sky threatened more, and she smiled one last time at him before grabbing her bag, and photo and started towards the stairs.
"Thanks again, Joe."
He just smiled and nodded, got in the car and drove off. She watched as the taillights of his car disappeared and she turned heading up the shrine steps.
"Inuyasha...." His name fell, whispered from her lips as she walked up the steps. She knew the danger in seeing him and getting into a fight with him during the service. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew something like this would happen and he would find out how she felt.
He heard his name fall from her lips and stopped. How was he supposed to tell her? He didn't want to hurt her, but he had to do what he had to do. It was something he knew would happen the moment his heart skipped a beat the first time she brought him back from his demon bloods control.
He followed after her in the trees, leaping from branch to branch. He studied her carefully, checking to make sure she had nothing that would hurt if she threw it at him. Except for the 'sits', he didn't see anything that would hurt.
Taking a deep breath, he almost coughed. Moisture was in the air and he felt a drop of rain, fall on his nose. He decided to wait until she got inside her house before he told her. That way she wouldn't get stuck in the rain. It looked like she already changed anyway.
Once Kagome got in her house, she knew immediately that her family wasn't there. She sniffed, and caught the scent of burning wood. The house was surprisingly warm. The lights were out, but a candle was lit near the door. She picked it up and walked towards the wall. She flipped the light switch but nothing happened.
"Powers' out," She said quietly. Her free hand rose to her wound which was throbbing painfully, because of the long stairs she had to come up. She tried to shrug it off and looked towards the kitchen.
She walked over to the kitchen counter. Whenever her family was leaving for something, they would leave her a note on the kitchen counter telling her where they went, giving her a number in case she needed to get a hold of them, and when they thought they would be back.
Kagome,
Hey sweetie. Sorry I couldn't be here when you got back, but I thought you might want some comfort food, so I took Sota and Grandpa with me to the store to get you something to make you feel better. Go take a shower or rest. I'll be back soon, dear. Call the market if there is an emergency. Oh yes, and that friends of yours, Jason, called while you were gone. He asked for you to call him back. Good-bye dear.
P.s. Your grandfather made a fire in the fireplace for you, in case the lights went out before you got there, and the house got cold. Please be careful, dear. I love you.
Mother.
Kagome smiled and placed the note back on the counter. She took the candle with her, and went towards the living room. Just as the note said, there was a fire in the fireplace and she went to the sofa. She placed the candle on the table, the heat from the fire filling the room making her comfortable. She curled her legs up under her, as she sunk into the corner of the sofa, her right elbow on the arm rest, her chin resting in her hand.
She looked to the side of her, and saw the white cordless phone sitting next to her. She picked it up and dialed Jason's number.
"Hey."
"Hey Jason, its me."
"Hey Kagome. When did you get home? I tried calling earlier, but your mother said you weren't home yet. Are you all right?"
Kagome smiled. "Yeah, Im fine. I was just remembering. I needed some time alone to think. Thanks again, Jace. I really appreciate everything you've done for me."
"You know im always there for you, Kagome. You're never alone."
After a couple more minutes, she said good-bye and they hung up. The phone slipped from her hand and her hand fell in her lap.
"I wish I knew what to do....," She whispered, the flames of the fire flickering across her face.
Inuyasha looked in the window at her. He watched as she went into the kitchen and read something, smile, then go into the living room. He saw her sit down, then talk to someone, the flickering flames darting across her face. She hadn't noticed him yet; she was staring off into space, now.
He crept in the house through the window, and closed it as the rain started to fall. Still she didn't move.
He took a deep breath. "Kagome."
Startled, she gasped, and jumped off the sofa, turning to face him. Her frightened face changed to one relief.
"Oh, Inuyasha." After a moment of silence, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to tell you what my decision was."
He averted her eyes, and she felt her blood run cold.
"I...."
TO BE CONTINUED.
A/N: Is this a worse cliffy?