Another's Name, But My Heart

By Lady of the Ink
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that . . .I hope. But I do own this plot and all the twists that it takes.

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General Reminder:

All references to Kikyo mean Kagome unless that section is in Kaede, Kagome, or the real Kikyo's POV.

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Chapter Twenty-One

Hold on For One More Day

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The girl leaning over him didn't so much as flinch when he opened his eyes. She merely subjected them to the same careful consideration she'd been giving the rest of him. Her hand remained on his cheek and she seemed completely unconcerned about being caught in the intimate gesture.

Several different realizations swept through Sesshomaru all at once. One was the fact that he was finally face to face with the girl from the meadow. Another was that someone had managed to get the better of him in a fight, albeit through sneaky tactics. Still another was that he was still weak from whatever had been done to him, and would need time to regain his strength.

There was a single thought much louder and more primal than the others. That voice was telling him that a human was daring to lay her hands on his body without permission as though it were nothing. It wasn't to be allowed. His eyes flared red and his lips drew back to reveal his fangs as a warning growl rolled smoothly from his throat.

The action got the desired effect as the girl jumped, her eyes widening in surprise. Her hand slid from his cheek as she pulled away slightly. Although she straightened so that she was no longer leaning over him, she remained seated at his side. Her expressive face broadcast her emotions clearly as surprise melted into confusion and, for the first time, uncertainty. It was quickly replaced by what he'd soon learn was her usual expression as a grin tilted her lips.

Sesshomaru felt off balance, and he didn't like it one bit. When he threatened someone, they were supposed to acknowledge his ferocity. They were supposed to go weak-kneed and speechless in fright. They were not supposed to smile at him.

Not liking her unexpected reactions, he turned his head away from her to stare at the wall. A few moments passed before he heard her climb to her feet and cross the room. There were some scraping noises and the sound of liquid being poured before the footsteps returned to his side. A weighty silence followed, telling him that the girl was waiting for some action on his part. Stealing a glance at her from the corner of his eye, he saw that she now held a bowl of the soup that he'd smelled cooking earlier. Her other hand had a cup of what he guessed to be water.

His head hadn't moved as he made his quick perusal, but she somehow seemed to know that she had his attention. Both offerings were thrust directly under his nose as an expectant look crossed her face.

"I don't want it," he said clearly, hoping the unusual girl would take the hint and leave him be. He was likely to be stuck with her through the night until he regained his strength. The last thing that he wanted to have to fend off her attempts to care for him for the rest of that time.

The girl simply rolled her eyes and pushed the dishes even closer to his face. Licking her lips, she made a little humming noise in the back of her throat and smiled as though to tell him it was delicious.

He could have ignored her. He could have allowed her to continue thinking it was the fear of bad cooking that kept he from taking it. He could have, and he meant to, but somehow an explanation tripped its way off his tongue without his permission. "I don't eat human food."

Her brows drew down in momentary confusion over that statement, but it didn't last long. Titling her head to the side in consideration, she squinted her eyes as she studied him. Giving her head a single sharp nod, her expression cleared as though she had come to an acceptable conclusion. She didn't say a word, just watched him with that same small smile hovering about her mouth.

Apparently accepting that he had told her the truth, she pulled back the bowl. The glass of water she balanced on the floor by the side of the bed. She gestured towards it as though to say it was there if he wanted it and then turned away. Even without looking, he knew that she took a seat across the room. She proceeded to eat the soup she'd offered to him.

Sesshomaru returned his gaze to wall as the girl cleaned up her dishes and did random chores about the house. Every time she passed the bed, she would pause to offer a warm smile before moving on. By the time night began to fall, he had listened or seen her dust all the shelves, mend a rip in what he assumed to be an article of her clothing, brew several different pungent mixtures and leave them to steep, and sweep the floor with a meticulous hand.

Setting aside the broom, the girl moved once more the bed. This time she walked right passed him, however, and knelt at the foot. He realized that there was a trunk sitting there when she popped open the lid.

Across the small distance came the slightly musty scent of a long-enclosed space. From the confines of the trunk, the girl pulled out a number of items and placed them at her side. A stack of clothing, a few old dolls, and some worn books were handled lovingly and with great care.

She perked up when she reached the bottom, apparently having found what she'd been looking for. Several quilts were lifted into view and she hugged them to her chest before setting them aside. The other things were returned to their former places and the trunk was closed. He soon learned the purpose of the additional blankets when she formed them into a makeshift pallet by the fireplace.

Satisfied with their positioning, she vanished through the door, causing him a moment of agitation that he quickly repressed. It made no difference to him where she was going, or even if she ever came back. She was merely an insignificant human, and his stay in her home an unwelcome necessity until he regained his strength. With any luck, he would be able to leave first thing in the morning.

Even so, Sesshomaru found himself relaxing slightly when she returned soon after with an armload of firewood. She stacked it carefully by the fireplace where it could be used the following morning, unlike any pieces that remained outside and would be damp with dew.

Brushing the woodchips and bits of bark from her hands, she took a final turn about the room, setting small things right in preparation for the night. Banking the fire with an experienced hand, she offered him a little wave before lying down. He turned away without acknowledgement, but found himself listening to her breathing as she began to drift off.

The night passed slowly. Sesshomaru, not needing sleep so much as rest, found himself with nothing but his thoughts to occupy to his time. Not likely the paths they took -mostly involving a certain human female who bothered him more than she should- he looked for a distraction. Of course, the only distraction in the room was the very thing he sought to be distracted from.

The slow and even breathing that filled his ears told him that the girl was deeply asleep. Since she couldn't see him, Sesshomaru decided to indulge his curiosity about her. It didn't mean she interested him, he told himself, it was merely the wise thing to do to learn all he could about the only other living thing around at the moment. Really.

She lay on her side, facing in his direction. One hand was tucked beneath her cheek, the other lay palm up on the floor in front of her. He remembered the sensation of her hand on his cheek, the calluses on it proof that she was no pampered maiden. Her hair, too, was proof of her existence outside of social customs, being far longer and worn loose against current fashion. It was well taken care of, though, shining with cleanliness and health.

If the girl lived a life as solitary as it seemed, she had obviously done so long enough to learn to take care of her self. She seemed totally self sufficient, something Sesshomaru never would have thought a human woman capable of. His experience had shown them to be even weaker than their male counterparts, relying on them for protection and their basic needs. It added to his understanding that she was different.

As though his thoughts had reached her even in slumber, the girl murmured softly to herself. Sesshomaru froze as she shifted position, turning onto her other side and presenting him with her back. In no time at all she had slipped back into the deep sleep of earlier.

Her face was now hidden from view and Sesshomaru found his eyes drifting downward. The quilt that had been covering her from neck to toes her gotten twisted, slipping askew until it only reached her waist. The lower half of her body was covered to her knees by the fabric of her skirt. That, too, had bunched up on her relocation, leaving her calves and feet bare.

The room was dark, with only the faintest of light coming from the banked fire. Even so, Sesshomaru's demon blood had given him eyes that saw nearly as clearly at night as in broad daylight. He was able to make out the smallest of details . . .including the thick scars that wound their way up the girl's legs to her knees.

x

Miroku stood at the door of the chapel, looking out over the courtyard as it was pelted by a late afternoon rain. Both the carpenter Inuyasha had hired and the maid he had promised to send had come and gone. The "guest" room now sported fresh blankets on the bed and a newly crafted bar on the door. All that remained to be added was the room's occupant.

While he waited for Inuyasha to return with his new roommate, he tried to recall every word that he'd been told about her. There wasn't much, but the little there was seemed most promising. She certainly didn't sound like the same type of woman he'd been surrounded with recently.

A vague look entered his eyes and his smile loosened as he recalled a few of those women. He'd been welcomed into the community with open arms, in some cases, literally. The younger women seemed enthralled with his smooth talk and were more than a little eager to spend time with him. The older ladies of the village were grateful to him for filling the need for a spiritual leader and he nicer wanted for a hot meal at the end of the day.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye. Turning towards it, he watched as Kikyo walked slowly in his direction with Inuyasha trailing along behind. One of his arms was around the waist of the girl at his side, supporting her weight as she limped along. Miroku refocused his attention fully on the girl and froze.

Pale, unblemished skin peeked through thick sable hair. Using Inuyasha as a guide, he could tell that she was tall and that every inch of her was long and lean. It was all on display, encased as it was in the tight, leather like material of her outfit. Even battered, bruised, and nearly falling down with exhaustion, she was stunning.

"Move," Inuyasha grunted as the small group reached the church's door. Belatedly coming back to his sense, Miroku stepped out of the way. He trailed the small party back the hall, watching as the girl settled onto the bed. Kikyo knelt at her feet, clasping the girl's hands within her own.

"Just remember that this is only temporary, Sango. After you've had time to rest and heal, we'll . . .you and Inuyasha will talk things out and resolve this whole thing." She stood then, smiling faintly. "Kaede is taking excellent care of Kohaku and you can see him again tomorrow. Until then, we'll just leave you in Miroku's capable hands."

A muffled snort from Inuyasha earned him an elbow to the ribs from Kikyo. Miroku kept a serene expression on his face as the couple took their leave. Once the door closed behind them, he turned to the woman seated before him - Sango, he now knew. Mimicking Kikyo's previous position, he dropped to his knees at her feet.

"Miss Sango, please know that I will do everything in my power to make our stay a pleasant one." Gazing up at her with a sincere look, he realized that she was even more beautiful up close. Her eyes were a deep velvet brown, mysteriously deep and full of shadows. A straight, pert nose rested over full lips tinted the faintest shade of ripe pink.

His fingers twitched.

Slap!

"Pervert!"

Even injured, the strength behind her blow had him skidding across the floor on his side. He tumbled right through the open door before coming to a painful halt against the opposite wall. Looking up, he saw Sango framed in the doorway, her loose hair flowing over her shoulders and her dark eyes flashing fire.

She was magnificent.

Miroku flinched as she slammed the door hard enough to knock the bar into place on the outside. Once the echo of the bang died down, he got to his feet and brushed himself off. For several long moments he stared blankly into the space in front of him before sauntering down the hall with a smile.

It looked like things were about to get interesting.

Kagome paced restlessly by the door of her bedroom. Most of the castle was asleep and she had yet to have the planned talk with Inuyasha. First it had been delayed while they got Sango settled in with Miroku. On their way back inside they had come across Kaede, who had requested her help with Kohaku. By the time that all his injuries had been seen to and Kaede declared he would survive, dinner was about to be served. Not having eaten since breakfast, Kagome decided to wait until after the meal to seek Inuyasha out.

It was then his turn to be occupied, right in the middle of a meeting with his troops. In a hurried whisper as he pulled her out of sight, he told her to put Shippo to bed and they'd speak when he was through. After a moment's hesitation, he had leaned closer and kissed her cheek before striding quickly in the other direction.

Now, nearly an hour later, Kagome raised her hand to the still tingling spot. It had been such an open and unexpected gesture that she hadn't seen it coming and had no time to brace herself for it. A shock had shot up her spine as a cloud of warmth filled her. Under any other circumstance, she would have found it incredibly sweet. As it was, trapped in a situation beyond her control, it merely made her want to cry.

By admitting to herself that she was in love with Inuyasha, she had started a chain reaction of realizations. She knew that she had to do what was right for him, and that meant telling him the truth. Although Kikyo had masterminded the plan and forced her into going along with it, she herself was far from completely innocent. Whether he would admit it or not, Inuyasha was going to be hurt when he learned she'd been lying to him.

And therein lay her problem. She knew him well enough to know that his hurt would take the form of anger. While she didn't believe he would do her physical harm, she had no doubt that he would lash out in some way. After what she'd done, she doubted he'd ever want to see her again.

Tears sprang to life in her eyes at the thought. Her sadness grew as she envisioned her future stretching out in front of her, long and empty. She knew that there was no way she'd love anyone the way that she loved Inuyasha, but even if she did, marriage would be out of the question. As soon as the story got out -and it would- people would assume that she'd played the role of wife in all ways. She'd be considered tainted goods.

Worse than any labels would be the way they'd look at her. Kagome didn't think that she could bear to see accusing and disgusted eyes peering out at her from the faces of people she'd considered friends. And what would her family think when they learned the truth? She groaned as she pictured their reactions, halting her pacing to lean against the wall.

There was only one solution. She was going to have to leave. Maybe if she put enough distance between herself and the entire town, she would be able to make it through somehow. While she doubted she would ever forget the people or recent events, maybe time as well as space would dim the pain.

Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin when there was a knock on the door. She barely had time to collect herself when it opened and Inuyasha poked his head inside. Seeing that she was awake, he pushed the door further open but remained standing in the doorway.

Silence stretched between them. Kagome knew she should just get it over with, but the words seemed to have deserted her. A faint sweat broke out on her upper lip and her mouth felt as dry as a desert. She swallowed in an attempt to remedy that and fisted her hands in her skirt to still their trembling.

Inuyasha wasn't handling the wait any better. He balanced on the balls of his feet and then rolled his shoulders while pointedly not looking at her. The action drew Kagome's eye to his previously injured arm. It had been hanging uselessly at his side the last time she had noticed it; now it looked like it was back to normal.

It seemed like a safe enough issue to start with, and so Kagome cleared her throat. "Your shoulder seems to be better."

He flexed as if to prove the truth of her words. "Demon blood. I heal fast."

Kagome nodded before lapsing back into silence. The talk was not going the way she had hoped. The right words had not come to mind and leapt off her tongue. They were both ill at ease and nervous, unsure of what to say or do. She suppressed a sigh of frustration. This was not how she'd wanted her last conversation with him to go.

She froze in reaction to her own thought. Her last conversation with Inuyasha . . .the last time she'd be able to look into his golden eyes . . .the last time she'd have the urge to brush aside his silvery hair . . .the last time she'd have the urge to tweak his ears . . .

Kagome pressed a hand to her chest as she was struck with the feeling that she couldn't breathe. She wanted to cry, to scream, to beg whatever greater powers there might be to give her just a little more time. Just one more day, just the chance to make one more memory to carry with her through the rest of her lonely life.

A gentle touch on her arm caused her to look up. Inuyasha had moved away from the door and come to stand directly in front of her. As she looked into his concerned face, the reaction she had been hoping for earlier suddenly came over her. Words rolled out of her mouth, unplanned and unchecked, expressing the strongest, most powerful thought in her mind at that moment.

"Stay with me tonight."