Title: Consequences of my Faith
Rating: PG-13
Author: Catherine Perey
Summary: Near the end of their journey, Kagome mulls over her new fate that she may not speak of.
Author's comments: OMG! I'm so sorry for not updating sooner, school's been hectic. Catherine 98, you rock.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all materials related to this story are copyrighted to Rumiko Takashi.
CHAPTER ONE: Hiding behind the Mask
Kagome had only just stood and turned from the stream when Inuyasha looming a few meters away startled her.
"Oh! Inuyasha! What are you doing here?" She inquired nonchalantly. Her first mistake had been to let her face expose the fear of capture that had gripped her heart when she saw him. The second, Kagome thought ruefully, was underestimating him.
He mustn't know the truth
Inuyasha scowled while he watched her carefully for something to give her away but to no avail. Snorting, "We're leaving soon, go wake the girl and the lecher." he snapped. Kagome frowned momentarily before striding past him with a quick 'sit'.
He mustn't know anything
Why couldn't he leave her alone?, Kagome thought angrily as she made her way back to camp. It wasn't as if he cared.. much, at least. She wasn't blind. Kagome knew about all those little moments when the caring Inuyasha bore through his arrogant mask. And even if he went to see Kikyo, he didn't love the shell, but cared for the one waiting for him to return back at camp. No matter how hard it was for her to see him go.
This world we have created for ourselves...
Just as he knew she cared for him, leaving them in a painful tangle of heartstrings. But many months ago they spoke, and they decided what was best, to leave anything but duty behind closed doors and in the past. Affection, words, presents, over-protection, it all had to be hidden for everyone's sake. So they remained with their destiny, Kagome's somewhat more painful.
...Is much too fragile for me to add another crack...
Coming to a halt just before the lip of the clearing, Kagome paused. Because of their closet emotions, Kagome refused to let anyone know or worry for her. This was her burden, whether it drove her to death or not. Willing herself forward, Kagome took the last few steps. Sango looked up expectantly while Miroku stirred the fire. "Where did you disappear to? I was hoping we could take a bath before we left here, the hot spring is really nice." Sango inquired honestly. "You mean me to include me too? Oh Lady Sango, I would be honored!" Miroku said lavishly, bringing a hand to his heart just before Sango knocked him to the ground. "Take a bath with Inuyasha, pervert." She said icily.
...And cause it to come crumbling down around him
Just when the words left her mouth Inuyasha jumped down with the regular scowl on his face. Sango frowned to herself, what had happened between Inuyasha and Kagome this morning? Inuyasha looked pissed about something and it was probably going to ruin their whole day. "Let's go! The shard's not far!" He growled and strode quickly across to the main road. Kagome had followed almost immediately, only stopping to grab her bag and Shippo, who was sleeping peacefully on an old coat of hers. She had felt so treacherous the first time she put sleeping pills in the chocolate to drug the kitsune into a long and deep sleep, but the overwhelming relief of being able to leave quickly without him waking up and crying over powered it.
We are all he has left..
Nestling Shippo into his usual spot upon Kiara's back, Kagome let herself fall to the back of the pack but not out of Inuyasha's irritated sight. He wasn't angry, at her at least, he was worried. A slight twitch of concern had faded onto his face, carefully concealed by anger. But she knew better. Fingering the small fringes of the bandages that were exposed from under her shirt, Kagome pondered. If Inuyasha knew she was leaving every night, what did the others know? Shippo had smelt blood the day before, and if Sango dragged her off to bath, surely she would see her arms.
...I can't let him hurt because of me
But what worried her the most were Miroku's groping hands. If he went to feel her backside up, he might hit the deep scratches on her left thigh or the two very large gashes on her lower back. And if he did, Inuyasha would demand a reason for her pain. That couldn't happen. Kagome was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice Inuyasha had stopped until she ran straight into him, falling to a painful heap at his feet. Getting up slowly as she bit back a nasty word, Kagome met his gaze. "Are we stopping?" She asked quietly.
That day, so long ago there was much pain...
"No, wench" He grabbed her wrist gently enough for her to hide her pain, "You are going to tell me what is going on." He looked peeved. "Right now?" Kagome's voice was only a whisper. "Yes right now, you're not going to go fucking sneaking around behind my back anymore." He said equally as quiet. Kagome narrowed her eyes, he couldn't find out, "I should say the same thing about you and Kikyo." Inuyasha seemed appalled for a moment before he gently threw her to the ground in disgust. "Shut up bitch." Kagome bit back the retort that boiled up her throat, the one they all expected. Standing, she let herself fall to the back once more, ignoring the odd looks the other's gave her.
...everyone had been injured greatly..
"Kagome?" Sango asked tentatively, slowing her pace to match the miko's. "Hmm?" Sango furrowed her brow in concentration, "What.. is going on, between you and Inuyasha.. I mean... " Kagome tilted her head to the side, looking out over the countryside, " Nothing Sango, he's just pissy today, can't help that." Sango didn't seem happy with that answer but still returned to the main group but kept a modest space between her and the monk.
...Inuyasha the most as he had tried to protect me...
She still remembered the battle, blurs of blood and anger. The sheen of the hard metal blades. So many months ago...
...but they had succeeded...
"If we walk till sunset, we will reach a village Inuyasha." Miroku's voice offered. Inuyasha snorted, "Fine, but no breaks until nightfall." They would walk endlessly, till darkness; but neither the dark nor the walking would save Kagome from the one thing she couldn't defend herself from, her mind.
...they stole everything from me...
------------------------------------------
You know you want to review... the buttons cold, can you warm it up? (that sounded really wrong)
