A/N: Ah, the final chapter! This one took awhile, because I wanted it to be really good, and I was away from my computer for a while. Thank you all for reading and reviewing, and if you want, I may write a sequel, maybe...but only if it's requested, of course. Please enjoy, and on with the story! P.S Yeah, I did get Tales of Symphonia! It's so awesome...
Crossing over to the feudal era had been easy, and InuYasha was more than happy to take a few savoring breaths of air without pollution. It had been awkward, and neither one had said word to the other except the occasional nod. What was scaring InuYasha more was that he was even more torn than before.
Kagome's kiss had been warm, yet sent shivers up his back. Kikyo's had been cold, unfeeling. Kikyo's kiss used to be warm like that...but now...
"InuYasha, why are you staring at me...?" Kagome asked, blushing a bit. He snapped out of his trance, a bit baffled.
"Keh, can't a guy look where he wants to?" He spat venomously, looking away. Kagome frowned, staining her features.
"InuYasha..."
"What?" Is voice softened.
Damnit.
"Look...about this morning...I'm sorry..."
"Eh...?" His ear twitched. Why the hell was she apologizing? The scent of her touched his nose, mixed in with confusion. Now that he looked closer, she was shifting her weight nervously, almost...almost like expecting to be punished.
"Why are you apologizing?! I 'm the one who...you know..."
"But..."
"But nothing, wench."
"What about Kikyo?" She blurted, and slapped her mouth shut. Too late.
Damnit.
Inuasha was rubbing off on her.
Damnit.
The amber-eyed hanyou sat down beside the wooden edges of the well, in his trademark style. Kagome shrugged off her backpack and flopped down beside him, smoothing her skirt over her thighs. She could wait.
InuYasha looked away from her, the sunlight caressing her beautiful figure-
Stop that! He scolded himself, shaking his head. He would look at her, and he wouldn't think of her, like that. Taking a deep breath, he jerked around, swiftly grabbing her shoulders and staring at her dead on, his hands gripping her tightly.
"What the-"
"Shut up." He would make himself study her now bewildered features, her long locks of coal black hair falling gracefully over her shoulders, framing her soft face with gentle but at the same time strong mahogany eyes, that made his heart somehow skip a beat when she smiled at the same time. His hands relaxed on the curve of her shoulders, trying to soak in her warmth as he realized suddenly he wasn't breathing-
"Damnit all to hell!" He snarled, before leaping into the air, his silver mane trailing behind him as he bounded into the trees. Kagome blinked,
"What was that about...?" She shook her head, brushing off any dust clinging stubbornly to her clothing before she hoisted her backpack over her shoulder, heading off to Kaede's hut. "I hope nothing's wrong..." She muttered, daring to take a glance behind her.
"Hmmm? Where are Sango, Miroku, and Shippo?" Kagome looked around, checking her watch mechanically. "They should be up by now..." She grumbled, slipping the backpack off of her shoulders and peering into the hut. She gasped at what she saw, and anger seemed to boil out of her skin.
"Miroku!!" She screeched, yanking him up by the ear and snapping him from his peaceful sleep, shoving him out of the hut before he could say a word.
"Ka...Kagome...?" Sango blinked her sleep fogged eyes open, looking up at her.
"Do you realize what Miroku did to you?! Oh my god, did he paralyze you or something?!"
Sango flushed, but shook her head. "No...I'm fine...he didn't do anything..."
"You mean..." Kagome gasped, her eyes widening. "Miroku! Oh I'm so sorry!" She tore out of the hut, confronting the monk sitting cross-legged on the ground, rubbing his ear.
"It's okay, Kagome. You were only trying to protect lady Sango's well being..." He trailed off as Sango sort of staggered out of the hut, yawning, spreading her arms out wide momentarily. She found her bearings fast, and noticed where the monk was staring. Blushing she abruptly announced,
"I'm going to get firewood!" Kagome gaped as Sango sped away.
"Wait...what's been going on, Miroku...You, she..." She tried to piece it together. "Wait, you two...!" She giggled like a little kid, and Miroku was suddenly reminded of a premature teenager laughing about a crush. Than she stopped, and glared at him.
"Miroku..."
"What...?" He asked innocently, his gaze still on Sango's swaying hips.
"You didn't actually make Sango-"
"Oh no Kagome! Please, I am a monk, I have much more respect."
"Uh-huh..." An eyebrow rose into her bangs, but she would talk to Sango later. She sat down across Miroku, twirling a strand of hair absently.
"Say...where's InuYasha?" The blue-eyed monk looked around, until he saw Kagome blushing furiously. "Oh...so tell me, what line did he use to get you into bed, hmm?"
"Miroku!!"
"Well, one can only assume such because the others have stayed over night."
"Um...You see..." And she explained it to him, start to finish. Normally, she wouldn't have told him anything, but she felt like it was eating inside her, and she was confused. After a few interruptions, such as Sango joining them, and a few "hentai's!" later when Kagome reached touchy subjects, she finished, out of breath and near desperation.
"I see..." Miroku pondered, his free hand supporting his chin in a thinking stance. The other was behind him supporting his body carefully, as Sango sat in between his legs, leaning against his warm chest. Sango, cursing herself for blushing so much, draped an arm carefully over Miroku's bent leg, much to his pleasure.
"You know how InuYasha gets, he's probably just confused." She pointed out. Kagome giggled,
"I'm surprised-"But it was too late. Miroku's hand was already wandering.
"HENTAI!" Sango turned around and slapped him furiously, but decided not to move. Not that she could, for Miroku's arms suddenly embraced her as he rested his head on the crook of her neck.
"Oh, when can I be allowed to do that? Perhaps when we're in bed...?" Sango turned a deeper scarlet that made InuYasha's clothing jealous, slapped him again, but didn't move, just sighed heavily.
"TMI! TMI!" Kagome yelled. The two blinked.
"T...M...I?" They repeated, bewildered.
"It means, 'Too much information!'" She informed them, but at the same time, she was happy for her friends. She just wished Inuyasha was like that...
But at the same time, she realized, she didn't.
Because that wasn't the InuYasha she had fallen in love with.
Miroku caught the sad smile that formed on her lips, and decided to give his honest opinion.
"Knowing InuYasha, he's just as confused as you are, Kagome. His feeling's for you are probably surfacing and making themselves more apparent now, and as much as I hate to admit, he's probably feeling like he's betraying Kikyo in some way." Miroku tightened his grip on Sango unconsciously, as if to hold her closer. "It's hard for him to let her go, he feels he owes her something." He sighed, "Or maybe I'm just conceptualizing. Either way, maybe you should wait for him to sort out his priorities a bit."
"You really think he likes me...?" Kagome asked, a far off distance in her eyes.
"He kissed you, Kagome! And after all you two have been through?!" Sango stated the obvious, bringing Kagome to a reality check.
"Thanks, you two. I guess...I should just wait...?"
"Ummm-hmmm!" Shippo agreed, hopping onto her shoulder.
"Shippo! How long have you been listening?!"
"Long enough." He grinned, and turned to Miroku.
"Now, just what is it that you and Sango would do in bed?"
"Delighted you asked such a fine question!" Miroku replied all too happily. "It begins when-"
"Miroku, he's a kid!" Sango scolded.
"And he'll be a smarter kid once I'm through, now..." And with the air of purpose meant for a school teacher, he began.
20 minutes later
Sango and Kagome had decided to leave Shippo and Miroku alone with their 'talk' and came back to see how they were progressing. Shippo was starry eyed, his expression displaying both disgust and wonder.
"I see Shippo has learned about the...you know..." Kagome said, blushing slightly.
"Sex!" Shippo declared proudly.
"That's right!" Miroku cheered. Then Shippo looked back and forth between the couple.
"Wait a sec...you and Miroku are gonna do that?!" Shippo's eyes widened in horror as he stumbled backwards.
"That's right!" Miroku said.
(Slap)
"See, you don't strike as the type to do it at a full moon with the scent of lavender mixed with heat as the moonlight bathes your bare-"
"That's enough, Shippo." Miroku smiled nervously, slapping a hand over the child's mouth. "You go and...use that line I taught you on the village girls, okay?"
"Okay!" that seemed to cheer him up as he pranced away happily.
"What did you tell him?!" Sango screamed, once the kitsune was out of earshot.
"Everything there is to know..." Miroku almost whimpered innocently.
"Oh, and I bet you left out no detatil of your little fantasy, either?!"
"That's right!"
(Slap)
Shippo had wandered into the village an hour or so, but soon grew bored because he was heartbroken to discover that no female kitsunes resided there. Sighing, he decided he would go and find InuYasha, because if Kagome wasn't going to, he was.
He didn't particularly care how much noise he was making, and over the crunching leaves and sticks his small adept feet were walking over, he searched for the hanyou amongst the treetops. Sunlight dripped lazily through the tree branches and leaves, shading Shippo's searching emerald eyes.
"InuYasha!" He squealed, leaping into the dead tree that he resided in. Landing carefully next to him, and careful not to look down, his expression turned grim as InuYasha answered him a beat to late.
"What do you want, runt?" His strong build was leaned against were the branch and tree met, one foot hanging idly in the air, the other resting on the branch, his knee bent.
Deciding to get him in a better mood, Shippo skipped the topic of Kagome and headed straight to the lecture the monk had given him.
"You know, Miroku willingly told me where babies come from."
"Oh, I bet, the pervert..."
"And, even though Kagome isn't my biological mother, she's still like a mother to me. I mean, I couldn't really remember my original mom that well, only her warmth and love...but then she passed away, and for a while, I refused to love anyone else. But then I met Kagome, who reminded me of my mother, and she was always there for me. So I accepted the fact that I had found a new mother, because she loves me more than my biological mother ever could...now..."
Shippo looked up at InuYasha, who's eyes were shaded from his bangs.
"And, my father...no one could replace him, but...I think, I've found another one..." Shippo's voice was unsteady, but pressed on, "And...it's sorta like a family...except..." His voice grew angry, "I don't want it to die, InuYasha! I want my father to love my mother, as much as she loves him!"
"What are you talkin' about, brat?! You're parents are dead! Do I need to spell it out for ya?!" InuYasha screamed, his amber eyes flashing furiously.
"Maybe they are, InuYasha! Because when you hurt Kagome, a part of her dies. And I know the same thing happens to you too! And if you let Kagome die...if she..." Tears were already racing the other down his cheeks, "I don't want to lose another mother! I don't want her to leave me! I don't want you to leave me, you...you...murderer!"
He started sobbing, and didn't stop, even as InuYasha pulled him into his lap, letting him cry there. After a while, the hanyou looked down, his arms dangling lazily at his sides.
"You okay, you crybaby?"
"Yeah..." He muttered, sniffing loudly. He refused to make eye contact, just sat there a little while.
"You've evolved a space into our lives, Shippo. I had to carve my own when I was younger into this world...and I used to let no one in...It's hard...growing up without a mother or father..." Inuyasha whispered, and Shippo felt he had to strain his ears hear to him.
"I wouldn't know." Shippo replied, daring to lean against him.
"Feh..."
For a while they sat, enjoying the other's silence that hung over them comfortably, as a slight breeze rustled the leaves experimentally.
"So...what brought the conversation of sex with the monk?"
"Sango."
"I should've known...your such an idiot, listening to him."
"No, now I'm smarter. Come to think of it, that girl Sesshoumaru carries around...pretty cute."
"I didn't ask."
"We haven't seen Sesshoumaru in a while now, have we?"
"What of it, brat?"
"It's just kinda strange..."
"Maybe he finally died, the old bastard."
"Oh, I wanted to see that girl again!" Shippo snapped his fingers in disappointment. InuYasha rolled his eyes.
"Stop listening to the monk."
"Make me." InuYasha socked him over the head.
"I will ya runt! Now leave me alone, you reek of pervert."
Shippo obeyed, taking one passing glance at InuYasha and bounding back through the forest.
"Any news of InuYasha?!" Kagome asked feverishly as soon as Shippo returned. Shippo's eyes grew big,
"Kagooommmeee!" He hugged her ruthlessly. Kagome didn't know what got into him, but comforted him anyway.
"It's okay, Shippo...wait...did InuYasha do something to you?"
"No." He hopped back down on the ground. "I saw him in the forest, he's just thinking, I guess."
"Really?"
"Yep, it's a first huh?"
"You got that right." Miroku said a few feet away, tending a fire that they would be cooking on.
"I wouldn't count on him to show up tonight." Sango added as she tossed in some herbs to flavor the dish they were creating. Kagome sighed wistfully, sitting down, her eyes looking empty as she stared at the fire, but was really staring beyond it.
"Cheer up, Kagome...we have fish!" Shippo tried, leaping into her lap. Twilight was setting in, painting warm colors over the landscape.
"I'm...not hungry..." She told him, untying his hair tie and putting his hair up again.
"Oh come on, you must eat something!" Sango insisted. "To keep up your strength."
"No...maybe later. I'm going to go for a walk across that meadow Shippo told me about earlier..." Shippo slowly got off her lap, as a seemingly empty shell of Kagome left them, her mind obviously somewhere else.
"Wait-" Sango almost succeeded in standing up, but Miroku's hand on her arm stopped her.
"I think she would be best left alone." Sango nodded, relaxing again. After a meal in silence, the night was beginning to sweep over the village, and soon torches licked at the sky, as the stars scattered to their nightly watch posts.
"She's still not back yet..."Shippo mumbled, than yawned widely.
"You should get to sleep, Shippo. It's not good for you to being stay up this late." Sango scolded, with the air of a mother scolding their child. Shippo glared at her.
"I'm waiting for Kagome...to...(yawn)...get back..."
"I don't think so, you'll see Kagome in the morning."
"But what if something's happened to her?!"
"We must have faith in lady Kagome's intensions, and trust her." Miroku told him, his eyes fixed on the leaping flames occupying the fire pit.
"Off to bed now, sleep with Kilala in Keade's hut." Sango scooped Shippo up, who was too tired and overcome by sleepiness to protest, and laid him gently beside her pet demon.
She walked back out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, when Miroku was nowhere to be seen.
"Miroku?!" She called, her eyes searching the camp frantically. She ran over to the fireplace, her head whipping around, and her ears straining for any kind of noise. She was relieved when she felt his warm arms wrap around her from behind, his breath just barely brushing her neck as his voice was sparkling with mischief.
"Were you worried, my Sango?" My Sango...She repeated to herself, smiling faintly. "Come..." He said simply, letting go and grasping her hand in one fluid movement, and led her over to the side, away from the village lights. Lying down, he beckoned her to do the same, Sango made herself comfortable beside him, timidly letting her head and one hand rest on his shoulder and chest.
"You sounded like a mother, with Shippo..." Miroku told her. Sango blushed.
"The stars are nice tonight..." She trailed off, her eyes gleaming with wonder, looking at the never-ending night sky took her off the earth, her hand tightened around the fabric of his clothing as if to keep there. Miroku chuckled, slipping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer,
"Sango...what if we don't defeat Naraku in time?"
"What...? Miroku-"
"I don't want to hurt you if..."
"I'd rather love you now than never." Sango answered fiercely, but then felt her face heat. Would he catch it...?
"Ah...I love you too, Sango." He laughed again, and pointed with his free hand. "See that?"
Sango followed his hand, for he was pointing at a full moon, the cold but beautiful light cut through the night air brilliantly.
"A full moon..." She answered, trembling slightly. What was it that Shippo had said earlier...? She looked up at Miroku, his gaze fixed on her, his charming face shadowed and portrayed so his sapphire eyes glittered brighter than any moon she's seen.
Miroku bent lower, kissing Sango passionately as she returned it full force, not bewildered anyone. Reluctantly he let go slowly, his eyes flicking to the left thoughtfully.
"I'm sorry, Sango...I can't...we're rushing things..."
Sango didn't reply, but grabbed his hand with only a slayer's swiftness and brought down to her butt, rubbing it with his hand, hoping he would get the message.
flashback
Miroku's hand was already wandering.
"HENTAI!" Sango turned around and slapped him furiously, but decided not to move. Not that she could, for Miroku's arms suddenly embraced her as he rested his head on the crook of her neck.
"Oh, when can I be allowed to do that? Perhaps when we're in bed...?"
Last thing she saw was his eyes widening in surprise and delight as she kissed him again, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck, Miroku's hand slid carefully up her back.
Shippo snickered from his post in the tree, wide-awake. I'm not too bad of an actor...
"They're gettin' it on."
The moonlight cut through the tree branches eerily, exposing the night creatures that wandered below, them hissing at whatever god was watching over them to shut the light off.
Shadows slipped into dimensions beyond reality, making any fear come to life. And amongst all of this was InuYasha, in his exact same spot. His mind rebelled against the growing hunger in his stomach, and it rumbled in protest. Darkness was already hungrily consuming the place, but he did not notice. He was too lost in a never-ending circle of mind games.
What am I doing to myself? I can't possibly have feeling's for Kagome...and even if I did, it wouldn't matter, I owe Kikyo my life...I promised I would stand by and protect her.
Didn't you promise the same thing to Kagome?
...Yeah...hey who asked ya anyway?
I'm your human mind, what little you have left of it, anyway.
Go away, the last thing I need is you.
I am you.
Shut up! I wouldn't talk to myself this way.
You are. Anyway, you realize that Kikyo is dead.
No...No she's not!
You're in denial, InuYasha. Move on, you must put her to rest.
Shut up! I'm not listening, you bastard.
You're only insulting yourself.
...
That's better. The truth is, InuYasha, Kagome accepts you for who you are. She doesn't care if you are human, or all demon, she's always been with you, even when you ran off to Kikyo.
I did not-
Yes, you abandoned her, for what? A dead woman.
SHE IS NOT DEAD!
You keep telling yourself that, and when you feel how cold her touch is compared to Kagome's, you know you've made a mistake.
SHADDUP ALREADY! It's not that simple!
How is it not simple? Take Kagome, she cares for you deeply. Take Kikyo, she wants you dead.
But I owe her my life.
You owe her nothing!
Bullshit! Leave me alone you damned...you damned...thing...As if to prove his point, the bats watched as Inuyasha hit himself in the head, muttering and grumbling.
You love her...admit it.
Who, Kikyo? I love her, yeah, what of it?!
...Okay, describe her.
...Fine...She's sweet, and loyal, warm, she's always there, she loves me, and she loves me for me...she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and without her...I'd be nowhere...She listens to me, and even after I've screwed up she still apologizes...I don't deserve to be in love with her...but somehow, she makes me feel differently. She makes me feel...like...I actually BELONG beside her, damnit!
And, god, I always have to save her. To protect her, that's my...vow, I guess. She's strange, all right, and has a nasty temper. She's sorta scary when she get's mad at me and calls me a 'jerk'...even though I'm not...Come to think of it, without Kagome's love, I-
His eyes returned from their glassy state, and sudden realization dawned on him like a ton...like a ton of bricks, is what Kagome called them.
It's a little late to say I told you so. You've loved her all along, but your insecurities you took out on her, and you pretended to love Kikyo because you knew that she wouldn't love you, which gave you stabilily. With Kagome, your confused, but it's a good confused-
OH SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
Bounding through the trees, his breath coming ragged as thoughts flew past his head as quick as the breeze.
What if she's mad? What if she's hurt? What if...what if she left? Don't leave me, Kagome...Bursting out of the trees, the moonlight caressing his scratched face, his ran as fast as his legs would take him to her. He could smell her...He closed his eyes...no one's scent was more beautiful than Kagome's.
The swish of meadow grass exploded as InuYasha ran, leaping over hills. She's closer...He saw a tree up ahead, and smelled her there. An extra burst of speed and suddenly his breathing stopped.
She was standing right there, the shadows licking at her face playfully. It was then InuYasha's hands started to shake.
"Inuyasha...you came to find me." Her voice had a hollow ring to it.
This couldn't be Kagome.
"Kag-"
"Shh, let me finish." Her lips trembled violently, numbly she continued on. "Look, I've come to accept the fact that...that you're going to forever love Kikyo-"
"Wha-"
"And I understand that things will not change between you two. I am only a problem with your relationship, trying to get close to you. I mean, this morning I thought things were gong to work out, but..."
"Kagome-"
"Listen. I don't want you to...t-to talk." Her voice was gradually deteriorating, and sobs were weaved within it. "I need to get this over with..." She stepped up closer to him, and he could see her eyes brimming over with crystal tears.
"I hate you, InuYasha! I want you never to see me again, I hate you for all you've done to me!" Tears were sliding down her face viciously. "I hate you for not killing me when you had the chance! I-I hate you...I hate you for being such an insensitive jerk! I hate you for allowing me to fall in love with you! I hate you for having such gorgeous eyes and I hate you more letting me stay by your side! I hate you for letting care for you! I-I..." InuYasha lost track of how many tears rolled down her cheeks, or how many sobs she muffled.
"I HATE YOU, INUYASHA! LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screamed.
But InuYasha didn't flinch. His face softened as he watched Kagome's shoulders shudder as she cried, her knees buckling beneath her. Somehow, it wasn't hate she kept repeating over and over, it was love that Inuyasha kept hearing.
"Kagome, I-"
"I told you not to talk!" She wheezed, her eyes glistening in the night's light. She didn't want it to end this way, but she couldn't bear the parting be sad. InuYasha wouldn't feel as much sorrow if he was angry.
"Listen to what I have to say, damnit!" He roared, stomping his foot. Kagome blinked and averted her gaze, ashamed of herself for being so rude. He sighed, and cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her gently to meet his gaze.
"Kagome...I will and always love you...when living. My death, however, after I've passed, belongs to Kikyo."
"InuYasha...I'm-" But she didn't have time to finish. The hanyou pulled her in a rough embrace and kiss, wrapping her up and taking her by surprise. After a moment he just held her, his face buried in the nape of her neck. Reluctantly he let her go, her fingertips lightly brushing the red cloth on his shirt before leaving full contact.
He gave her one last longing look and smiled, before he sprang away to find a tree to sleep in for the night. Kagome watched him go, wiping the tears that choose to linger on her cheeks.
She turned to leave, when she felt something pull her quickly into the air, yelping in surprise, she squirmed, fearing the worst.
"Stop squirming, wench!" She heard a familiar voice complain, as they hit the ground and bounded up again. She relaxed immediately; the darkness had fooled her.
You'd think he would stop calling her wench right about now...
She sighed. This was InuYasha, not Prince Charming.
And she wouldn't have had it any other way.
After a peaceful night's rest in InuYasha's arms in the highest tree of the forest, Kagome and InuYasha woke up a little early and took their time heading back to Kaede's. Within a range of fifty feet from the village, a very frantic kitsune crashed into Kagome's arms, his jade green eyes glowing in fear.
"Come quick! Sango's the scariest I've ever seen her!" He cried, and seemed to cower at the memory.
"How come?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know! It must have something to do with Miroku though."
"Keh, why am I not surprised."
When they got there, Sango was, indeed, in the worst rage they'd seen her yet. Her face was flushed, and a fire danced in the depths of her eyes.
"MIROKU! GET OUT HERE!" She screamed, and the trio watching flinched. Sheepishly Miroku stumbled out of the hut.
"Oh, look, Sango! Their back." Miroku ducked so her giant boomerang wouldn't hit him.
"YOU'RE DEAD, MIROKU! A DEAD MAN!"
"Oh, Sango, what have I done to you...?" But some excitement was traceable in his voice, some happiness that they couldn't quite put a finger on.
"Sango! Please, stop this!" Kagome ran over, restraining her friend from violence. "What's going on?!"
The huntress huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and sighed,
"I'm pregnant."