You're My Weakness
Kagome's eyes followed the gentle rising and falling of the hanyou's chest, watching him sleep peacefully across from her. Getting any kind of medicine on the gash on his forehead was like trying to diaper a baby on a sugar rush, which in the end required a horrendous 'sit'. 'Could this have something to do with his attitude as of late?' Crawling delicately on her hands and knees, she placed herself against the wall beside him. 'The look on his face when he saw that demon....he looked almost terrified.'
"What're you gawkin' at?"
"Huh?" She met the glow of amber as he sat up, tilting his head as he stared.
"What's with you?"
"What do you mean?" Kagome fiddled with the bottom of shirt, her eyes searching the room in any attempt to avoid his gaze.
"You're acting weird."
"Well, I could say the same for you!" She retorted, a little more hostile than she had meant for it to be. InuYasha flinched, turning his head to stare out the window. He was doing it again. Dodging the obvious question. "InuYasha, what's wrong with you?"
"I told you not to worry about it!" He stood, not getting far before her small hand gripped his forearm. His brow furrowed in frustration as he turned back, meeting the tearful, dark orbs.
"But I am worried about it! You tell me that it's not me, that it's you. Well, what concerns you concerns me, too!"
"Oh, yeah? And when did we make that decision?!" He screamed, edging his face closer to hers. Ouch. Her hand withdrew, placing itself over her heart, which was breaking into a thousand pieces.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." She turned away, hiding herself under the fur blanket of her mat. "It's none of my business." InuYasha reached a hand toward, failing for it to meet its destination before dropping limply back to his side.
"Yes, it is."
Kagome uncovered her head, peering over the edge of the blanket at him. InuYasha plopped down heavily at her side, easing his hand under the blanket to grasp hers. Kagome gasped lowly as she was tugged into his lap, his hand stroking through her dark hair. "This is what I'm talking about, InuYasha."
"Just listen, okay?" She nodded, laying her head against his chest. "I....I haven't felt right for the past couple of weeks. Not just me, everything hasn't felt right. I knew something was out there, I....just didn't know what. When I saw that demon, it....it triggered something. I couldn't pick up his scent. It was like he didn't....even have one. Now, I know why."
"I don't understand." Kagome pulled away, scooting off him onto the floor, but never looking away.
"I....I think....I think before Kikyo died, she did something. Something terrible."
"InuYasha, what is it? What are you trying to say?"
"I think that demon was my....my father."
Kagome stood before she knew her legs were moving, finding it ever so hard to breathe or even speak. "Your....but, how...you told me yourself..."
"Like I said, I think it was him. I'm not sure. That's why I have to leave."
"Leave!?"
InuYasha raised his head, sensing the anger and worry in her voice. He stood up in front of her, placing a gentle clawed hand on her shoulder. "I have to know. He knew we were here. I have to know if it's him and what he wants. I'm going first thing in the morning."
"You're not going alone." Kagome laid her hand on top of his, the other stroking the side of his face. "I'm coming with you."
"You can't."
"And just why not?"
"Because I said so."
"InuYasha, I...."
"Don't you get it?! You're my weakness!" He pulled her into him, closing his arms tightly around her small frame. "I can't let them know that you're the only way to get to me. I can't risk losing you. I won't!" The hanyou left her standing, refusing an argument as he walked out into the night. Kagome stared at the empty doorway, feeling helpless. Touched by his semi-declaration, she wiped away the new stream of tears that washed against her pale cheeks.
'I love you, too, InuYasha...'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
InuYasha stared into the forest, preparing himself mentally for the ordeal he knew he would have to endure. But he would endure it alone....or so he thought.
"InuYasha!"
The young hanyou turned in the direction of the call, his friends running eagerly with weapons in hand. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked gruffly.
"We're coming with you." Kagome answered, not intimidated by his scowl.
"Oh, no....I told you last night...."
"I don't care what you told me! You're not going alone!"
"Yes, I am!"
"No, you're not!"
"I am!"
"Not!"
" I am!"
"Not!" This time, the retort was shot by all. InuYasha raised a skeptical eyebrow, looking onto the determined faces of all his companions. His shoulders dropping, he lowered his head.
"Look, this is something I have to do on my own."
"That's fine, but we're coming with you."
"Huh? Kagome, that....fine!" Turning on a dime, he lowered himself to grant her access to his back. "Get on." Kagome obliged, leaning to kiss him on top of the head as she did so.
"Everything's going to be fine."
The hanyou smiled at her reassurance, leaping off with Kirara not far behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome let his words from the previous night rain throughout her memory, making her heart gallop against her chest.
"Something wrong?"
"Huh?" She looked up at the hanyou standing above her, smiling at his presence. "No, why would there be?" He crouched down in front of her, entangling a clawed finger in a lock of her hair.
"You look..."
"InuYasha, say it."
"Huh? Say what?"
"Please,....tell me you love me."
His face softened as he sat beside her, snaking an arm behind her to pull her closer. "Why?"
"Because you never say it. I just want to hear it."
"Okay...I love you."
"Thank you. I love you, too." Laying her head against his shoulder, she watched the others go about their nightly rituals of settling into sleep. It had been months since they had slept in the forest or been on any kind of hunt. It brought up old memories. "InuYasha, how are we going to find him? You said he didn't have a scent."
"I don't know, but we will." He kissed her lightly on top of the head, rubbing his hand against her arm for comfort. 'If we don't find him...I'm sure he'll find us.' "Go to sleep, Kagome."
"Okay...(yawn)...goodnight."
"Goodnight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The demon Lord stood, twisting his shoulders in an attempt to relieve his restlessness. He looked out from the mountain, ignoring the squabble of his companions behind him. How had he come back? For months, he had been wondering. The witch had beaten him. Taken his life, with ease it seemed to him. But now, he was back. Rejoined with his vassal and the young girl he liked to think of as such. Staring into the moonlight, he could recall the vague memories of his meeting with InuYasha's former desire. And what she had been doing.
*Flashback*
"What do you think you are doing, woman?"
Kikyo glared with what seemed like a boastful smile, unflinching as he approached closer, his anger apparent. "Have I offended you in some way?" His amber eyes looked past the dark miko at the beast still gathering its senses.
"Why have you done this?"
"I just needed a guarantee that my quest to kill InuYasha will be fulfilled. If for some reason, I should fail....."
"He has no business in your quarrel!" His silver hair flowed around him, his hand landing on the hilt of Tokijin. "Undo this! I have no interest in seeing him live again!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
"You dare mock me!?" The sword was drawn quickly, sending a ray of pulsing power at the priestess. Her smile only grew wider as she lifting her hand, a red energy crackling in her fingertips.
"If you want a fight....so be it!"
*End Flashback*
He shook his head of the memories, studying on the purpose at hand.
"Rin. Jaken. Let's go."
"Yes, M'Lord." The two replied in unison, exchanging agitated glares before following the amused prince. He walked ahead steadily, never again acknowledging the bickering presences behind him. His thoughts rested on seeing one person. One person he never thought he would have to turn to. His brother.
