A/N: Sorry!!!!!!!! Really, I'm very sorry for not updating for ages! Again, same reasons are to be given. School, school and school. We have just finished our examination week. It was really tiring. But still, I'm very happy to see a lot of reviews from my previous chapter. I'm really sorry I had to end it with a cliffie. That's what makes the readers review and ask for more. Don't you think? Anyway, thanks to all those who reviewed! I really got lots of idea from them and I got to know what the readers don't understand much in my story so I can explain them further.
I can see through the reviews that many of you are curious if there was really something about that necklace… You think I just placed it there to make Kagome prettier? Wrong! Of course, the necklace adds twist to the story! And you wouldn't understand it much yet because the explanation is in chapter 11. You better read that chapter carefully… ' But before you read it, I still need to post it. Hehehehe…
About Hikari's fast forgiveness, well, she's not yet really forgiving Kagome. Just said that to make the conversation short with Kagome. Time is needed to completely forgive someone…
About the question I left at the end of my chapter, I can't decide which place I'll choose. Both seems to be very good but as I begin to think about the characters' way of thinking… I'm sure they'll stay at the village even just for a while… Kagome's hurt so they shouldn't be traveling.
Many of you hated the cliffie. Sorry I had to end it there… I guess I should lessen doing them… Or you might eat me already. Scary… But still, I'm glad that you liked the way the chapter was written—especially the crystal thingy. You really got curious, huh?
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Disclaimer: Inuyasha isn't mine. But I own the plot! At least, the plot!
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Chapter 10
Serious Talk Leads to "SIT!"
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Inuyasha was sitting at one corner of the hut with his arms crossed on his chest, looking worriedly at Kagome's resting figure while Hikari placed a blanket over her body.
"She's endured too much pressure these past few days. I hope she'll be fine when she wakes up," thought Inuyasha. "So many things have happened…"
Inuyasha snapped out of his thoughts upon the arrival of the others.
"We have finished returning the villagers in their homes so they could rest." Miroku said as he entered the hut. He looked at Kagome and then at Inuyasha. "How's Kagome-sama?"
Inuyasha shook his head slowly. "She still hasn't opened her eyes," replied Inuyasha.
"Is that so?" Miroku said, looking down. "We can't do anything but wait…" He said, settling on the floor near Kagome's resting place.
"I'm sure she'll be waking up tomorrow morning. She just needs some rest." Hikari assured them as she stood up. "I'll just go check on my father on the other hut. I'll be back later to bring you some dinner and some blankets." She said and left.
"Inuyasha," said Miroku, looking at Inuyasha seriously. "don't you think it's strange that Naraku just left after finding that the necklace that was controlling Kagome-sama has been broken?"
Inuyasha looked back at him seriously and replied, "Yeah, I noticed that too."
"Don't you think this is all part of his plan?" Sango said, looking at Kagome with troubled eyes.
"You mean Kagome is still in danger?" Shippou asked, looking at them.
"If this is still part of Naraku's plan, we'll have to do our best to protect Kagome-sama." Miroku said, his eyes looking at Inuyasha for any comment.
Inuyasha didn't say anything but gave a small nod. "This time, I'll protect her seriously." Inuyasha vowed in his mind. "That bastard has made Kagome suffer more than enough. I'll never let him near Kagome ever again."
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"Have you finished your dinner?" Hikari asked as she entered the room with folded blankets on her arms.
"Yes," Sango answered. "Thank you for the wonderful meal." She told Hikari, flashing a grateful smile.
Hikari smiled back. "You should be tired. Here's some blankets for you." She said as she handed them to Sango. She stood up and went to collect the bowls and left over food on the low table. "If you need anything else, just call me on the other hut." She told them and left shortly.
Miroku and Sango began fixing their beds on the far side of the hut. Shippou curled beside Kirara on Sango's side since Kagome needed to be alone so she could rest completely. Inuyasha didn't lie down to sleep, instead, he just stayed on his position near the door so he had a clear view of the whole room and he could guard the entrance as well.
The night grew deeper but Inuyasha didn't dare close his eyes. He just sat there with his arms folded, his Tetsusaiga resting on the floor beside him.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha cursed under his breath. "This thought is going to make me crazy!" He hissed, trying to shake the thought out of his head. He suddenly paused and looked at Kagome. "I can't help myself from worrying. The thought of Kagome being used by Naraku just to get to me is making my heart crumble. What is Naraku up to this time?!" Inuyasha pondered, his eyes continued to stare at Kagome with worry.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha turned his head to find Hikari standing next to him, looking curiously at him. "What do you want?" Inuyasha asked, looking at Hikari sideways.
"I-I just brought some rice and fish for Kagome when she wakes up." Hikari explained as she walked over to the table to place the food. "She hasn't eaten anything yet. I bet she'll be hungry when she wakes up."
Inuyasha didn't say anything. He returned his gaze to Kagome and watched her silently.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Hikari asked curiously, trying to start a conversation.
"I don't need too much sleep like humans." Inuyasha answered but didn't take his look away from Kagome.
"But you should still sleep even just for a while, right?" Hikari said.
No answer again.
"You don't need to worry too much about her." Hikari said, seeing Inuyasha's eyes fixed on Kagome.
"Everyone else is asleep," said Inuyasha, changing the subject. "You should do the same."
Knowing that the conversation wouldn't last any longer, Hikari walked towards the door and said, "I'll go to sleep already. Kagome will be fine, don't worry." And she was gone.
Inuyasha looked at the door for a while then returned his gaze at Kagome. "Don't worry? That's impossible." Inuyasha said in his mind. "As long as I'm not sure that Kagome's safe, I will worry."
Inuyasha didn't know what had come over him but he suddenly stood up and walked closer to Kagome's resting place. He settled beside her and sighed. He sat there contentedly as he watched Kagome's peaceful face. "Her face is so calm. It's like she hasn't suffered any pain—but deep in her heart, she's been very sad and pained. Her face is more beautiful now that she doesn't have that cold expression painted on her face—now that she doesn't have the same icy expression on Kikyou's face. I like her like this better—the Kagome I know." Inuyasha's mind remembered the way Kagome's face looked as she pierced the sword in his chest.
"I said die!" Kagome shouted, her eyes burning with anger.
"Her eyes back then lost their warmth. Very much like Kikyou's eyes when she shot that arrow to seal me. I was scared to see her like that. Very scared…I thought I'd lose Kagome—like the way I lost Kikyou…" Inuyasha thought. "I can't bear that anymore."
"Hm?" Inuyasha suddenly noticed something glowing in Kagome's clenched fist. He took her hand carefully and opened it. "Shikon shards?" He said. Inuyasha took them from her hand and examined them carefully.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha slowly looked at Kagome and found that she was staring back at him curiously.
"Ka-Kagome!" Inuyasha said in surprise. "You're awake?!"
"Eh?" Kagome said, sitting up. "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm awake! I just took a nap so why wouldn't I wake—" Kagome suddenly paused and looked at Inuyasha's hand holding her hand, slightly blushing. "Um..." Kagome's hand felt like it was going to melt any second now.
Inuyasha immediately dropped her hand, blushing furiously. "I was just getting the Shikon shards from your hand!" He immediately reasoned out, still flushing.
"Okay," said Kagome. "You don't need to explain. I understand." She said.
"Here," Inuyasha said, handing the shards to Kagome.
"You keep them for me for a while," said Kagome, looking around for something.
"What?" Inuyasha said, looking suspiciously at her. "Why are you suddenly letting me keep the shards?"
"I didn't say you could keep them forever. I said 'for a while'." Kagome replied, still turning her head to look for something.
"What are you looking for?" Inuyasha asked, getting irritated that Kagome didn't care much about the shards anymore.
"I'm looking for my bag. I'm a little hungry," answered Kagome.
"There's some food in the table." Inuyasha said, looking at the table.
"Really?" Kagome said, brightening up. "That's great!" She said, trying to stand up.
"Hey!" Inuyasha said, preventing her from standing up. "What do you think are you doing?!"
"Huh?" Kagome looked at Inuyasha with a confused expression on her face. "I'm going to stand up to get the food."
"Idiot!" Inuyasha scolded her. "Can't you see you're still weak and you want to move around already?!" Inuyasha stood up and walked towards the table to get the plate of food.
"Thank you," murmured Kagome, not daring to look into Inuyasha's eyes as she felt herself blushing.
"I won't be doing this often so better make the best out of it." Inuyasha said, sitting down to face Kagome.
"You wouldn't need to do it often." Kagome pointed out, extending her hands to get the plate from Inuyasha.
"What do you think are you doing?" Inuyasha asked Kagome, moving the plate away from her.
"I'm trying to eat!" Kagome said, trying to reach the plate.
"Aren't you just annoying?!" Inuyasha said, getting infuriated with Kagome. "Haven't I made myself clear to you yet? I told you that you shouldn't be moving much!"
"But I'm already hungry!" Kagome argued, pouting her lips.
"Idiot!" Inuyasha yelled at Kagome. "That's why I'm here, right? I'll feed you!"
Kagome's eyes widened in shock after hearing Inuyasha's words. "Inuyasha's… being nice to…me?" She thought as she looked at Inuyasha with perplexed eyes.
"What's with that face?!" Inuyasha said, getting totally irritated. "If you don't like it, then just say it. Don't look at me like that!" Inuyasha said, getting frustrated under Kagome's stare.
"It's not that I don't like you to…" Kagome said, smiling at Inuyasha. "It's just that… I was surprised that you're being nice to me."
Inuyasha blushed again. "Just open your mouth so we can finish fast." He told Kagome, taking the chopsticks and giving Kagome a bit of the fish.
Kagome smiled at Inuyasha then opened her mouth obediently like a little girl would. "Thank you, Inuyasha…"
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"It tastes really good!" Kagome exclaimed, looking at Inuyasha.
"Hikari gave the food." Inuyasha told Kagome, placing the empty plate on the floor. "You need anything else?" He asked.
"Can we go outside for some fresh air?" said Kagome, smiling softly.
Inuyasha was about to object because he was worried about Kagome's condition but Kagome's eyes pleaded in him to say 'yes'.
"Please," Kagome said with imploring eyes. "Just for a while."
"But Kagome, you're not yet—"
"If you wouldn't let me go outside, I wouldn't sleep either." Kagome said threateningly.
"Are you threatening me?" Inuyasha asked, looking at Kagome with a raised eyebrow.
"Maybe." Kagome said, a sly smile on her lips.
Inuyasha sighed in surrender. "Fine! We'll go outside but in one condition—we're not going away from the village." Inuyasha said. "If you wouldn't accept my terms, forget it!"
"I accept it." Kagome said, smiling at Inuyasha.
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Kagome and Inuyasha were sitting down on the grass under a tall tree, staring at the star-filled sky.
"Wow! It's so great to watch the sky, don't you think?" Kagome said, taking a deep breath of the fresh air around her.
"I guess so." Inuyasha said as he leaned on the trunk of the tree just behind them and looked at the stars too.
"By the way," Kagome said, looking at Inuyasha's direction. "thank you for serving me, Inuyasha."
"I told you I wouldn't do that often so stop making a big fuss about it." Inuyasha said; his voice sounded irritated. He still continued to stare at the stars even though he was talking to Kagome.
"I still want to thank you for everything, Inuyasha." Kagome said, smiling thankfully.
"For everything?" Inuyasha repeated, now looking at Kagome inquisitively.
"You saved me and you still treat me nicely even though I tried to kill you." Kagome said, looking down at her lap. She couldn't look at Inuyasha straight in the eyes after what she had done to him. "Sorry, Inuyasha…" She started to cry silently.
Inuyasha placed his hand on Kagome's chin and made her look into his eyes. "Will you stop saying sorry?!" Inuyasha said, looking at Kagome with pained eyes. "As long as you didn't mean it, you shouldn't be sorry. As long as you come back to me, you shouldn't be sorry. As long as I know you'll stay with me, you shouldn't be sorry." Inuyasha lifted his hand on Kagome's cheek to brush her tears away. "You always cry about silly things." He told her. "If you'll continue doing that, it will make me feel very bad."
Kagome wiped her tears away and flashed a small smile at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha," Kagome started. "sor—"
Inuyasha placed a finger on Kagome's lips to silence her. "I told you not to say sorry anymore." He said.
"But that's all I can say." Kagome bickered, looking at Inuyasha's golden orbs. "I know I've hurt you so much and I feel terrible about it. I saw the sorrow in your eyes as I was killing you! I know that's how you felt the time when Kikyou shot an arrow to seal you!"
"I told you it's okay." Inuyasha said to Kagome, praying very hard that she wouldn't burst into tears again. He really hated it when she did that.
"I've hurt you!" Kagome pointed out. "How could that be okay?!"
"You stupid girl!" Inuyasha pulled Kagome to him to hug her tightly. "Do you think I don't know that you've also been suffering much lately?! I know the pain you suffered when you saw yourself trying to kill me although you never wanted to kill me! The way you wanted to stop yourself so you wouldn't have to hurt me. I know that pain Kagome! If you could have stopped yourself, you would! That's why it's okay. Because it's not you who did it!" Inuyasha hugged her tighter. "As long as it wasn't you, it's all right. I can endure the pain."
"But I can't bear to see you in pain, Inuyasha." Kagome said, her heart beating faster and louder. She was even sure that Inuyasha could also hear her heartbeat.
"Neither can I, Kagome." Inuyasha said, closing his eyes. "If it weren't for me, Naraku would never have used you. You wouldn't be called a murderer. I'm sorry for that."
"You don't need to be sorry about that." Kagome said. "It's my decision to stay with you. It's part of the consequences I have to face."
"It's still my fault because I wasn't there to protect you when Naraku snatched you." Inuyasha said, breaking the hug to look into Kagome's eyes. "It must have hurt real bad to wait for me for so long…"
Kagome's eyes stayed fixed with Inuyasha's eyes. "Inuyasha's apology tonight is surely one I should remember. This never happens often." Kagome thought, almost getting lost in Inuyasha's deep golden eyes. But then, she remembered the reason why Inuyasha wasn't there to protect her—he was with Kikyou. She shifted her eyes and looked away from Inuyasha. "It's okay even if I have to wait for ages, as long as you will come for me, I'll wait." Kagome said; her eyes streaked with sadness.
Inuyasha noticed the sudden sadness in Kagome's eyes and realized the reason for Kagome's sadness. "You've seen me with Kikyou again." Inuyasha's mind said, remembering what Naraku had told him before. "Why do I always keep on hurting Kagome…?"
"Let's go back." Kagome said, standing up and walking away.
Inuyasha immediately stood up and followed Kagome. Soon enough, he caught up with Kagome and he was now walking beside her. "Kagome, you've seen me with Kikyou, right? Tell me."
Kagome stopped in her tracks.
Inuyasha quickly stopped too and looked at Kagome in alarm. "Wrong move! Now she's surely going to sit me!" Inuyasha thought, his ears twitching as they waited for the terrible punishment.
"Yes." Kagome said softly.
"Huh?" Inuyasha said, looking amused at her. "No sit?" Inuyasha thought.
"Yes means I've seen you! You idiot!" Kagome said, walking fast again.
"You mean you've heard us?" Inuyasha said, following Kagome.
Kagome clenched her fists and looked at Inuyasha. "If you're wondering if I know that you chose Kikyou, yes, I already know that!" Kagome yelled.
"Kagome! Wait!" Inuyasha said.
"I'm going to sleep already." Kagome said, walking towards the door of the hut.
"I didn't choose Kikyou!" Inuyasha shouted.
Kagome froze in her position, making sure she had heard Inuyasha's words correctly. She clenched her fists harder and glared at Inuyasha. "You expect me to believe you?!" She shouted. "You hugged her!"
"If you wouldn't believe me, that's up to you." Inuyasha said. "But I'm telling you the truth! I didn't choose Kikyou!"
"I really don't believe you." Kagome said, walking again towards the door.
"Damn it, Kagome!" Inuyasha said, getting frustrated by Kagome's stubbornness. "I chose you!"
Kagome stopped again; her heartbeat was so fast that it might explode soon. "Did I just hear Inuyasha say he chose…me?" Kagome thought. "Is this for real or am I just dreaming?"
"Inuyasha, did you mean that?" Kagome said, not looking at Inuyasha. She just kept her back turned to him.
"Of course, I do! Kikyou's already dead so when she let me choose between the two of you I chose you because you can help me find the rest of the Shikon shards and—" Inuyasha closed his mouth immediately. "What am I talking about?! I shouldn't be starting this again with Kagome! She's going to get really mad at me! Inuyasha, you're a jerk! And now, you're surely going to get it!" Inuyasha scolded in his mind as he saw Kagome turn around to face him.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome said, her eyes were burning in fury.
"Ka-Kagome, this is a mistake… that wasn't what I wanted to say to you… I wanted to tell you that I guess I-I …" Words failed Inuyasha. He knew that it was coming and he couldn't do anything to stop her from saying it.
"SIT! SIT! SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!" Kagome shouted at the top of her lungs, then turned her back and entered the hut.
"Shit!" Inuyasha said as he pushed himself up from the dirt. "You wench! I was going to tell you that I guess I love you!" Inuyasha said the words so fast that he wasn't really aware of what was coming out of his mouth. Inuyasha's eyes suddenly widened at the words that escaped his mouth when he finally realized that he just said that he loved her. "What?! I love Kagome?!" Inuyasha thought. His cheeks felt hot as he thought about it more and more. "That can't be possible! I can't fall for her! The one I love is Kikyou! Kagome's just special to me but it can't possibly be that I love her... can it?" Inuyasha paused, trying to think about it for a second. "This is really fucking annoying!" Inuyasha cursed, leaping to a nearby tree to guard the hut as he sat there. "The more I think about it, the more it makes me go crazy. Just forget it!" Inuyasha thought, closing his eyes for a while. "That wench! If I'll think about it any further, she's really going to blow my brains out!" He muttered to himself. "I'm sure she's really mad at me now for telling her that I just chose her for the shards.... Keh! Let her be mad for all I care!" Inuyasha opened his eyes to glance at the cottage Kagome was staying in. "But still I told Kagome the truth... I chose her. The only problem is... I don't know my reason..." Inuyasha sighed and closed his eyes again to think.
Minutes passed by quickly but he still hadn't gotten the right answer. "Keh! Who cares about the reason! I don't like to think about it anymore!" He muttered to himself before completely letting himself fall asleep.
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After Kagome entered the hut, Miroku and Sango were wide-awake, looking at her.
"Kagome-chan…" Sango started.
"Please, don't ask about it anymore." Kagome said, resting on her bed and pulling the blanket up to her head to cover herself entirely. "That jerk! He really doesn't know how to do anything right! Idiot!" Kagome thought, cursing Inuyasha as she drifted away to slumber.
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A/N: Hehehehe! So it's not a cliffie anymore… I guess. For me, it's not a cliffie. Inuyasha's such a jerk! I hope he's not OOC here. I think he's just like that in the series… You know, expresses his feelings emotionally and then hugs Kagome tightly. But then, blows everything up when he's about to confess! A complete jerk! Hehehehe!
Please review, okay? I really want to know how you feel about this chapter. Actually, I just got this chapter last night to have an improvement on the two's relationship. I'll put the drama effect next chapter. Kagome's in trouble again! She's not going to be kidnapped. She's going to…. I can't say it yet! You just have to wait. Be patient. REVIEW OKAY? Thanks again!
By the way, is it proper for them to call Hikari 'Hikari'? I mean, don't they need to call her Hikari-san or Hikari-chan (although Hikari-chan is too much. They're not that close friends…) What do you think? Do you think Hikari's enough? Well, better end this already because I've still got to do my project. Thank you for your time reading and hope you enjoyed it! Review!