Wow! How proud are you, all of my precious Reviews, of me? I continued! Yea! But first we must go over a small thing. For me to start a new chappy, i wish to have at least 45 reviews. Think we can do it? If you give me 40, i'll be happy .:grins:. Anywho, onto the story!
"Now I know where I've seen her," growled Inuyasha. "That's the little brat that Sesshomaru keeps around him." Inuyasha let out a dry laugh. "I wonder how long it will be until Sesshomaru comes after me."
Chapter 8
Confusion and Confessions
A groan from the Prince made Sango whirl and rush over to him. The crowd that had gathered to witness Sango and Yash's battle began to disperse.
"What…happened?" moaned Yash as he tried to sit up. His head was throbbing dully and his leg itched but that was all.
Sango knelt down beside him and looked him over. Kagome packed up her things and walked over to Inuyasha, who was watching the castle warily.
"What's bothering you, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome. Inuyasha just grunted and Kagome reached up to grab one of his ears. He leaned into her hand as she rubbed the velvety fur and he began to purr.
She suddenly stopped and Inuyasha opened one eye lazily. She was looking up at him, her eyes troubled.
"What now? Why did you stop?" mumbled Inuyasha.
"I'll continue to rub your ears if you tell me what's bothering you," replied Kagome. Inuyasha growled at her but nodded slightly.
"It's just that the young girl, Rin I think her name is, never goes far without Sesshomaru so it made me think that maybe Sesshomaru may come after me tonight. It's kind of unnerving if you think about it," replied Inuyasha, sighing contently as Kagome began to rub his ears. "I mean, I know I know the Backlash Wave but will that be enough? Sesshomaru is tough; he evaded my Wind Scar last time so who knows if he won't do it again?"
"Don't worry, Inuyasha. Rin is going to take care of it. She won't say anything to Sesshomaru till after the Royal Ball," said Sango as she walked over to them. Miroku followed closely, his hand over her shoulders. He shot fearful glances at the Prince as his cousin was helping him up. He swore that he recognized the man but the man kept his head down, so his hair shadowed his eyes.
"A Ball? You mean something like a dance? Oh wow!" exclaimed Kagome, tugging on Inuyasha's ears. He let out a high-pitched whine and she gasped. Letting go, she apologized thoroughly as her face turned bright red.
"Yes. If by 'dance' you mean if there is dancing then yes," replied Sango. "I may have something for you to wear, Kagome, but the guys may have a slight problem with finding ceremonial kimonos."
"Lady Sango!" shouted Kuranoske as he walked over to them, holding onto his cousin. "Monk," he said sourly. Miroku pursed his lips but said nothing.
"How is Yasashiku? Will he be all right?" asked Sango, turning slightly. Miroku tightened his grip on her shoulders but she didn't notice.
"Kuranoske," growled Miroku. "What are you doing here?"
"So you remember me. Well, I had to come and celebrate my brother getting married to the woman I once proposed to," smirked Kuranoske.
"Now, now, my lord. We have much to think about before that!" laughed Sango, waving her hands frantically in front of her.
"Yeah. Leave her alone, Kuranoske. She isn't yours anymore so quit trying to put the moves on her," grumbled Inuyasha, angry that Kagome had stopped scratching his ears. He also didn't like the fact that he would be human tonight. Something didn't smell right, and he had a feeling it had nothing to do with Sesshomaru.
"Well!" exclaimed Kagome, linking her arm through Sango's. "I'm going to talk to her for a bit. Come get us when dinner's ready, 'k Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha nodded solemnly, his eyes begging for Kagome to scratch them some more. Kagome smiled sweetly at him and winked. She then led Sango away.
"You have returned, Rin. Why is this?" asked Sesshomaru calmly, but his eyes betrayed his emotions. He had specifically asked her to stay with Sango in case Inuyasha arrived and she had run back to him.
"I returned because I wanted to go to the ball and I need to get ready!" pouted Rin. Sesshomaru had brought her to his chambers and hadn't let her go. He had been prying her for the information of why she had left, but she had promised Sango she wouldn't say a word.
"Inuyasha is here now, isn't he?" asked Sesshomaru, eyeing Rin's innocent expression.
Growling, he sat down beside her and placed his hand firmly on her arm.
"Rin, I do not want to hurt you, but if Inuyasha is here and that human has told you not to tell your lord what is going on, I suggest you forget about it. Did I not warn you about my brother?"
"You did warn me, my lord, but Lady Sango said he was nothing like that. He would never hurt a human unless they hurt him first, and I believe her. And I'm going to the ball tonight, I'm not some animal you can keep caged up!" exclaimed Rin. She grinned slightly at the angered expression she had brought out of Sesshomaru.
"If you have already forgotten, Rin, I was the one that brought you back to life and I can easily take that life away again," snarled Sesshomaru, eyes flashing red. Rin's eyes widened and she eeped softly as she tried to crawl away from him.
What have I become? Thought Sesshomaru, fear showing on his features now. She doesn't deserve to be threatened, what have I become?
Without a word, Sesshomaru stood and walked over to the door. He stopped by the frame and turned to look at Rin. She was hiding behind the bedpost, fear clear on her face. He winced at the look; he didn't like watching Rin become scared of him.
"If Inuyasha is here, I will postpone our battle till tomorrow, for your sake Rin." Sesshomaru turned and walked out of the bedroom, his kimono making no sound as he walked down the hallway.
I will not fight that bastard of a brother. Just keep remembering why and you will get through it. It's for Rin; remember her feelings. Remember…
Walking down the hallway, emotion void on his face, he repeated the words and felt calm surround him. For Rin…
"Have you decided on your feelings, Sango?" asked Kagome as she lightly brushed her friends hair with the brush she had brought. Kilala was napping on Kagome's back and was making tiny noises as she dreamt.
"Yes. I just don't know how to tell Yash that I cannot be with him." Bowing her head, Sango thought about the look on Yasashiku's face when he saw her for the first time. It was almost like the reactions on Miroku's face every time he saw her. Respect, caring, shock of her beauty. Maybe this was what would help her decide what she should do.
"Kagome? Have you ever seen the expression on Inuyasha's face when he looks at you?" asked Sango suddenly.
Unknown to both girls, Inuyasha had decided to listen in. His ears perked at the sound of his name and he waited for Kagome to reply. Had she noticed his looks? Had she noticed the way he seemed to sniff at her scent daily, memorizing it into his brain? Had she noticed how his attitude sometimes changed whenever they were alone?
"Sometimes, yes," replied Kagome. "I can feel his eyes on me sometimes and when I do catch him watching me, I also notice how his cheeks colour." Her voice turned soft then, "But I can never forget that he still loves Kikyo. I know it's something I should overlook, but I want him to love me like he loves Kikyo. He still has no real clue of how much I love him, and I don't know about his feelings towards me."
Inuyasha bowed his head as his sensitive hearing picked up every word. In truth, his love for Kikyo had begun to fade and was replaced with something else. Sango's voice could be heard through the wood and he listened intently.
"Inuyasha does care for you, Kagome. You just have to remember all the times he has protected you, and cared for you. Do you not remember when we were burnt badly in that fire, and Inuyasha was near tears? (I don't know if Sango saw his tears, I've yet to watch the episode) He cares for you deeply Kagome, so don't let anyone say anything different." Sango smiled at Kagome and stood up. Walking over to the closet, she listened closely to Kagome's voice. It seemed frantic.
"How can I compete with Kikyo though, Sango? She is a powerful priestess; she was Inuyasha's first love! I cannot compete with that. He even said he would go to hell with her when she wished it. I will not stand by and let my Inuyasha perish into the fires of hell with that…that bitch!" shouted Kagome.
Inuyasha froze. He had never heard Kagome use such words, and they were deep with emotion; he could tell. Turning slightly, he peeked through the crack in the wood and saw Kagome crying. Eyes wide, he stood up and walked away, but not before slamming his fist against the pole outside the girl's room.
Kagome opened the door wide and saw that the wooden pole had been completely severed in half. She walked over to it and touched the claw marks that were visible on the wood. Putting a hand to her mouth, she realized that Inuyasha had been out here and had most likely heard her and Sango's conversation.
"Kagome? Are you all right?" asked Sango, coming out. She put an arm around Kagome's shoulders as Kagome sobbed.
"I have to find him. He knows," said Kagome suddenly and she pushed Sango away and ran into the fading light of day.
"Oh, Kagome." Sango touched the pole and then turned away. She walked into the garden that was stationed in the middle of the castle and sat down on the edge of the water bank. She looked up at the sky and watched as blue bled into red and then black. It was beautiful. She then noticed that the moon was not out; the new moon was present tonight. Inuyasha would be human.
"Sango?" came a voice from behind her. Sango smiled and turned, watching Miroku walk over to her.
"Hello, Miroku," whispered Sango, smiling slightly. She looked back up at the sky and felt him sit down beside her. "It's beautiful, don't you think?"
"Yes. It is also amazing how day bleeds into night over and over, like a constant battle between light and dark. But, I came to find you in hopes to talk," Miroku looked away from the stars that had begun to faintly dot the rapidly darkening sky. "Sango, I wish you to be happy, and if being with Yasashiku makes you happy, then I will understand if–"
"Say another word and I will slap you, monk. I love you and only you and I will always be happy wherever you are. You have to realize that," said Sango, eyes glittering with happiness. She leaned her head onto his shoulder and Miroku put his arm around her waist, hugging her close. Sango sighed contently and watched the darkening sky with her only love.
"Inuyasha! Where are you?" cried Kagome, searching for him. He didn't answer, but Kagome had one good idea where her hanyou resided. Walking out to the area where they had arrived, she found a lone figure sitting beneath they cherry blossomed tree. It was almost identical to Goshinboku.
"Inuyasha? Is that you?" asked Kagome.
The figure glanced up at her, and Kagome gasped. Tears were visible on the cheeks of the figure and Kagome now knew who it was. It was indeed Inuyasha, even though he was in his human form.
"Inuyasha! Why are you crying?" questioned Kagome, falling to her knees in front of him.
"I heard what you and Sango were talking about. I…" Inuyasha trailed off, concentrating on Kagome's hands. He was tempted to pull her to him once again and show her that Kikyo's love meant nothing to him.
"You heard us?" whispered Kagome. She reached out and touched his face. He flinched at her touch, but she didn't draw back. She lightly wiped away his tears and smiled at him through her own.
"I just want you to know that every word I spoke was true. I would never lie about something like that, especially to Sango. But when I heard you break the pole, I knew I might have gone too far in talking about Kikyo. I know how much you care about her and I should never had said something like that," Bowing her head, Kagome pulled her hand away. "It's just so hard for me to watch…"
"Kagome, I want you to listen to me carefully. You do not have to worry about Kikyo anymore. She left my heart a while ago, when I was still figuring out…other things." Inuyasha needed to finish this quickly. He could hear the people gathering for the ball the Prince was holding and he wanted to spend as much time with Kagome as he could. "I have finally realized what I have longed to keep hidden. I don't wish to go to hell with Kikyo, I wish to live and be with you."
When those last words left his lips, he grabbed her arms and pulled him to her, his arms wrapping firmly around her. His lips met hers lightly and Kagome's eyes grew wide. She was planning on pulling away, but the way he kissed her suggested he didn't wish her to pull away. She kissed him back lightly and closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Inuyasha tightened his grip on her and decided to be brave. He opened his mouth slightly and touched Kagome's lips with his tongue, asking for entrance. He was surprised when she obliged and he kissed her deeply, exploring her mouth with his tongue. When they finally broke, Kagome was breathless and leaning on Inuyasha's chest and Inuyasha had his head back against the tree. It was true; his mind could now see through the haze in his heart and find the place Kagome now owned. He had never let Kikyo enter his heart like Kagome had, and he realized how great it felt to be loved by someone when you cared just as deeply for them. Inuyasha smiled and lifted Kagome's chin with his fingertips.
"Is it true what you told Sango? You love me?" asked Inuyasha quietly, brown eyes searching Kagome's own.
"Every word I spoke was true Inuyasha, even that," replied Kagome, a light blush creeping onto her cheeks. Taking a deep breath she continued, "I have loved you since the minute I saw you but I didn't realize it until you went after Kikyo again. When I returned home, I was under Goshinboku and I could just feel in my heart how deeply I loved you. That has never changed, not even when you went to find Kikyo…nor will it ever change."
Inuyasha listened to her quietly, trying desperately to sort through his mind and heart. They both told him to love Kagome the way he knew he could, but a tiny drift of doubt floated through his mind. Kikyo would come after Kagome and surely kill her before she took him to hell by force. And also, he owed Kikyo for bringing Kagome to him.
Kagome had watched Inuyasha's face during her explanation and she saw the confused look residing there. Glancing back at the gateway to the gardens, she noticed more and more people being brought to it. The ball would start soon.
"Come on, Inuyasha. We should go find Miroku and Sango. The ball is starting soon and you still don't know how to dance," Kagome pulled on his hand and he rose reluctantly. Kagome's face brightened as an idea came to her. "How about I show you how to right now?"
"Right now?" asked Inuyasha. Kagome nodded and took his left hand and placed it on her hip. She then placed her left hand on his shoulder and placed her fingers in his. She then moved back and forth slowly, showing him the steps.
"Now, if you want to hold me closer, just put your hand on the small of my back, okay?" explained Kagome. Inuyasha nodded and pulled her closer to him.
"I guess I'm a better dancer then I thought," grinned Inuyasha. He spun her out lightly and then pulled her back to him.
"Yeah. Well, we should get to the ball and show off those moves!" exclaimed Kagome, giggling.
Inuyasha nodded and pulled away from her. Kagome kept her hand locked in his however and he didn't do anything to remove it. Smiling, they made there way to the ball together: Inuyasha still confused on how he could confess and Kagome wondering if Inuyasha still felt the same way.
Aww, cute ain't it? Don't hurt me for not making Inuyasha say he loves Kagome. .:hides:. Well, aren't you happy now? Lol. remember the review thingie tho. I wish at least 40! Well, i shall write a new chapter and hopefully it will be up by tomorrow, if you obey my demands! .:cackles evilly and awaits reviews:. Adios!
