A huge thank you to everyone who's reviewed my story! I never realized how
important reviews can be, until I got some. :) I promise from here on out,
any story I read, I'll leave a comment of some kind. I've finished Chapter
4 already and am in the process of working out Chapter 5, but since I don't
have as much time to spend writing, I'm trying to space out the updates so
you get them in a reasonable amount of time and I can still manage to
graduate from college. By the way, Preventer Squall, Muchos Gracias for
the Pocky! My fav. :)
Sniff, sniff...I don't own Inuyasha. That honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi. What a lucky woman! But the situation the characters of her creation are in, is all mine.
Ties That Bind Chapter 3
The air hung heavy. The group were all quiet as they mostly had been since the stop at the shrine in the mountains. Miroku, Shippo and Sango had talked amongst themselves at the changes in Inuyasha and Kagome, but were at a loss to explain why their friends behavior had changed so much in so little time. Kagome was preoccupied trying to sort out her feelings and trying desperately to think of a way to talk to Inuyasha. However, each time she got close to working up the courage, Inuyasha would leave the group to hunt or collect firewood or investigate some strange smell. She sighed heavily. It had been like this for two weeks now and things didn't look like they would be getting any better.
The group slowly made their way out of the mountains, their hunt unfruitful. As they made camp, Sango investigated the area nearby and found a hot spring. Walking back to camp she made up her mind that Kagome was talking to her, whether she wanted to or not. "Kagome, I've found a hot spring nearby. We should go now while the boys are busy with the food. And Miroku, I'm taking my weapon with me. If you take so much as a slight peek, you'll regret it, I swear!" Miroku saw the anger flaring in Sango's eyes and gulped. He'd never seen her this upset, ever. "Of..of course...S- Sango. We wou-wouldn't want the f-food to burn now would w-we..." he stuttered. Grabbing Kagome's arm, Sango led her from the camp.
As soon as the two girls had settled into the spring Sango turned on her friend. "What's going on with you? You've been acting weird ever since that night at the shrine. It's really starting to worry me."
Kagome smiled weakly at her friend. "I'm sorry Sango. I don't mean to worry you. I just...I just need to think some things through. That's all."
"Kagome, I know you're not telling me everything. Please, I'm here for you. Did Inuyasha say or do something? If he did, if he hurt you in any way, he'll pay. I'm getting tired of watching him hurt you again and again and you just allowing it. You deserve better than that."
"Sango, I truly thank you for your concern, but please, don't hurt Inuyasha. I...I just need some time to...to think some things through. I promise everything will be alright." Kagome smiled brightly at her friend, but Sango noticed the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Kagome..." she began as a slight rustling noise reached her ears. "Monk I warned you!" Letting her boomerang fly it connected and Miroku's voice could be heard echoing out in pain. "Kagome, I hate to have to cut this short, but I think we'll need to head back to camp. Just once, I want to take a dip without that perverted monk interrupting it." Sango growled. Kagome looked at her friend, a small laugh escaping her mouth. "Kagome, it's good to hear you laugh. It's been too long." Sango said with a hint of sadness.
"I promise Sango, things will be alright again soon." Kagome resolved to herself that whether Inuyasha wanted to talk to her or not, a discussion of what happened between the two was going to be necessary and soon.
Kagome's promise to herself had to wait. After leaving the area with the hot springs, Naraku sent demons to challenge them one after another. The group was wore out. They slowly made their way back toward Kaede's village. The journey taking them almost 3 weeks. Inuyasha and Kagome were still acting strangely, but Kagome had made an effort to act more outgoing with her friends and limited her thoughts on what had transpired between them to late at night. They were only two days from Kaede's village when Inuyasha made a promise to himself to talk to Kagome.
Sitting in the tree above the sleeping group, Inuyasha examined them. He'd noticed small changes in Kagome and these changes were troubling him. She'd been more fatigued than the rest of the group. Granted, the onslaught of demons was wearing them all out, but it seemed to be taking a slightly higher toll on Kagome. Instead of being the early riser that she usually was when sleeping outdoors, she'd become more tired and was harder to wake up. Her appetite had increased slightly. Not much, thought Inuyasha, but just a bit. He'd also noticed a slight wince whenever she drew her bow, as if her muscles were sore in her chest. 'But her smell, why has it changed? I don't get it. I just don't understand.
I've been avoiding her. I need to talk to her. This has to stop. I need to apologize. What happened at the shrine should never have occurred. I'm a half-demon after all. She doesn't even know that we mate for life. How would she react? Hmph, she'd probably reject me. Oh you stupid, you know she wouldn't, would she?' Inuyasha's thoughts continued late into the night.
When they arrived in Kaede's village, the group was thoroughly worn out. Kagome missed her family and announced she would be heading back for a visit the next morning. Inuyasha resolved that night that they must talk before she left.
The next morning Kagome was packing her backpack when Inuyasha approached her. "Kagome, I'll escort you to the well." "Alright Inuyasha."
As they walked the silence seemed to hang between them like a wall. Inuyasha mustered his courage and broke the silence. "Kagome, I'm...I'm sorry for what happened at the shrine. I should never, never have said or done those things."
Kagome let his words penetrate her mind and felt her anger rise. "You should never have said those things? You mean you don't love me? You made love to me, but you don't love me?" Her voice grew in anger.
Inuyasha felt his own anger well up. "I'm trying to apologize wench. I...I don't know how I feel," he spat out.
Kagome felt her cheeks grow hot and her heart start to break. 'I promised myself that my first time would only be with someone I love and now he says he's not sure how he feels. That...that...' her body began to shake with anger. "SSSSSSIIIIITTTTTT!!!!" she screamed. "Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit..." she repeated over and over, tears now freely falling down her cheeks. "How could you Inuyasha? How could you say those things to me and then tell me afterwards that you aren't sure how you feel? I gave myself to you. I...I did something I promised myself I'd only do with someone who loves me and now you aren't sure! How could you?" Kagome began running to the well. As she prepared to leap in, she turned back to Inuyasha, who was still trying to break the spell. "Stay away from me Inuyasha. Just stay way," her voice cracked and she turned and jumped.
Inuyasha stopped trying to break the spell and lay there in defeat. "Kagome..." he called, feeling his own heart breaking at the pain. "I love you," he whispered.
In the bushes nearby, Sango and Miroku's eyes widened at the scene before them. They looked at each other with shock written in their faces. 'That's what's been bothering her. Oh, Kagome! How could he? How?' Sango began to rise, the anger growing in her. Miroku reached up and put his hand on her arm. Shaking his head he led her away from the defeated hanyou and the well where pain was heavy in the air. Once they were well out of range of Inuyasha's hearing, Miroku spoke.
"Sango, I understand your anger and I too am very upset by what we've just heard. But we must let them sort this out for themselves. We cannot get involved."
"What? Miroku, didn't you see the same thing I did? We can't let him get away with that! He's done the ultimate injustice to her! He's dishonored her."
"I understand Sango, I do. But please, we must allow them to sort this out on their own. After all you've seen, do you doubt that he loves her? Do you truly doubt that?"
"I don't, but still..."
"Sango, listen. I believe they need to work this out for themselves. I think it is important we do not get involved. We may be trying to make things better, but we may make things worse." Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around Sango. Stunned, she didn't move. "I know how much you love Kagome, Sango. She's like a sister to you. But right now the best thing we can do, is let things take their natural course."
"I suppose you're right Miroku. I promise I'll let them work things out. However, I don't believe that letting things take their natural course includes you having your hand on my rear!" she said, smacking the monk to the ground.
"Ah, it was worth a try," Miroku said as he rose rubbing the red mark on his cheek and watching Sango stalk back toward Kaede's village. Turning toward the well he whispered, "Inuyasha, think hard on what has happened. Many things, I believe, hang in the balance." Turning, he followed Sango back toward the village.
Sniff, sniff...I don't own Inuyasha. That honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi. What a lucky woman! But the situation the characters of her creation are in, is all mine.
Ties That Bind Chapter 3
The air hung heavy. The group were all quiet as they mostly had been since the stop at the shrine in the mountains. Miroku, Shippo and Sango had talked amongst themselves at the changes in Inuyasha and Kagome, but were at a loss to explain why their friends behavior had changed so much in so little time. Kagome was preoccupied trying to sort out her feelings and trying desperately to think of a way to talk to Inuyasha. However, each time she got close to working up the courage, Inuyasha would leave the group to hunt or collect firewood or investigate some strange smell. She sighed heavily. It had been like this for two weeks now and things didn't look like they would be getting any better.
The group slowly made their way out of the mountains, their hunt unfruitful. As they made camp, Sango investigated the area nearby and found a hot spring. Walking back to camp she made up her mind that Kagome was talking to her, whether she wanted to or not. "Kagome, I've found a hot spring nearby. We should go now while the boys are busy with the food. And Miroku, I'm taking my weapon with me. If you take so much as a slight peek, you'll regret it, I swear!" Miroku saw the anger flaring in Sango's eyes and gulped. He'd never seen her this upset, ever. "Of..of course...S- Sango. We wou-wouldn't want the f-food to burn now would w-we..." he stuttered. Grabbing Kagome's arm, Sango led her from the camp.
As soon as the two girls had settled into the spring Sango turned on her friend. "What's going on with you? You've been acting weird ever since that night at the shrine. It's really starting to worry me."
Kagome smiled weakly at her friend. "I'm sorry Sango. I don't mean to worry you. I just...I just need to think some things through. That's all."
"Kagome, I know you're not telling me everything. Please, I'm here for you. Did Inuyasha say or do something? If he did, if he hurt you in any way, he'll pay. I'm getting tired of watching him hurt you again and again and you just allowing it. You deserve better than that."
"Sango, I truly thank you for your concern, but please, don't hurt Inuyasha. I...I just need some time to...to think some things through. I promise everything will be alright." Kagome smiled brightly at her friend, but Sango noticed the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Kagome..." she began as a slight rustling noise reached her ears. "Monk I warned you!" Letting her boomerang fly it connected and Miroku's voice could be heard echoing out in pain. "Kagome, I hate to have to cut this short, but I think we'll need to head back to camp. Just once, I want to take a dip without that perverted monk interrupting it." Sango growled. Kagome looked at her friend, a small laugh escaping her mouth. "Kagome, it's good to hear you laugh. It's been too long." Sango said with a hint of sadness.
"I promise Sango, things will be alright again soon." Kagome resolved to herself that whether Inuyasha wanted to talk to her or not, a discussion of what happened between the two was going to be necessary and soon.
Kagome's promise to herself had to wait. After leaving the area with the hot springs, Naraku sent demons to challenge them one after another. The group was wore out. They slowly made their way back toward Kaede's village. The journey taking them almost 3 weeks. Inuyasha and Kagome were still acting strangely, but Kagome had made an effort to act more outgoing with her friends and limited her thoughts on what had transpired between them to late at night. They were only two days from Kaede's village when Inuyasha made a promise to himself to talk to Kagome.
Sitting in the tree above the sleeping group, Inuyasha examined them. He'd noticed small changes in Kagome and these changes were troubling him. She'd been more fatigued than the rest of the group. Granted, the onslaught of demons was wearing them all out, but it seemed to be taking a slightly higher toll on Kagome. Instead of being the early riser that she usually was when sleeping outdoors, she'd become more tired and was harder to wake up. Her appetite had increased slightly. Not much, thought Inuyasha, but just a bit. He'd also noticed a slight wince whenever she drew her bow, as if her muscles were sore in her chest. 'But her smell, why has it changed? I don't get it. I just don't understand.
I've been avoiding her. I need to talk to her. This has to stop. I need to apologize. What happened at the shrine should never have occurred. I'm a half-demon after all. She doesn't even know that we mate for life. How would she react? Hmph, she'd probably reject me. Oh you stupid, you know she wouldn't, would she?' Inuyasha's thoughts continued late into the night.
When they arrived in Kaede's village, the group was thoroughly worn out. Kagome missed her family and announced she would be heading back for a visit the next morning. Inuyasha resolved that night that they must talk before she left.
The next morning Kagome was packing her backpack when Inuyasha approached her. "Kagome, I'll escort you to the well." "Alright Inuyasha."
As they walked the silence seemed to hang between them like a wall. Inuyasha mustered his courage and broke the silence. "Kagome, I'm...I'm sorry for what happened at the shrine. I should never, never have said or done those things."
Kagome let his words penetrate her mind and felt her anger rise. "You should never have said those things? You mean you don't love me? You made love to me, but you don't love me?" Her voice grew in anger.
Inuyasha felt his own anger well up. "I'm trying to apologize wench. I...I don't know how I feel," he spat out.
Kagome felt her cheeks grow hot and her heart start to break. 'I promised myself that my first time would only be with someone I love and now he says he's not sure how he feels. That...that...' her body began to shake with anger. "SSSSSSIIIIITTTTTT!!!!" she screamed. "Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit..." she repeated over and over, tears now freely falling down her cheeks. "How could you Inuyasha? How could you say those things to me and then tell me afterwards that you aren't sure how you feel? I gave myself to you. I...I did something I promised myself I'd only do with someone who loves me and now you aren't sure! How could you?" Kagome began running to the well. As she prepared to leap in, she turned back to Inuyasha, who was still trying to break the spell. "Stay away from me Inuyasha. Just stay way," her voice cracked and she turned and jumped.
Inuyasha stopped trying to break the spell and lay there in defeat. "Kagome..." he called, feeling his own heart breaking at the pain. "I love you," he whispered.
In the bushes nearby, Sango and Miroku's eyes widened at the scene before them. They looked at each other with shock written in their faces. 'That's what's been bothering her. Oh, Kagome! How could he? How?' Sango began to rise, the anger growing in her. Miroku reached up and put his hand on her arm. Shaking his head he led her away from the defeated hanyou and the well where pain was heavy in the air. Once they were well out of range of Inuyasha's hearing, Miroku spoke.
"Sango, I understand your anger and I too am very upset by what we've just heard. But we must let them sort this out for themselves. We cannot get involved."
"What? Miroku, didn't you see the same thing I did? We can't let him get away with that! He's done the ultimate injustice to her! He's dishonored her."
"I understand Sango, I do. But please, we must allow them to sort this out on their own. After all you've seen, do you doubt that he loves her? Do you truly doubt that?"
"I don't, but still..."
"Sango, listen. I believe they need to work this out for themselves. I think it is important we do not get involved. We may be trying to make things better, but we may make things worse." Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around Sango. Stunned, she didn't move. "I know how much you love Kagome, Sango. She's like a sister to you. But right now the best thing we can do, is let things take their natural course."
"I suppose you're right Miroku. I promise I'll let them work things out. However, I don't believe that letting things take their natural course includes you having your hand on my rear!" she said, smacking the monk to the ground.
"Ah, it was worth a try," Miroku said as he rose rubbing the red mark on his cheek and watching Sango stalk back toward Kaede's village. Turning toward the well he whispered, "Inuyasha, think hard on what has happened. Many things, I believe, hang in the balance." Turning, he followed Sango back toward the village.