A/N: Hey all! Wow I'm so blessed to have such dedicated fans! I'm trying to update at least every other day, but I have tons of things in life like doctors… doctors and… doctors. Some are complaining I'm going too fast. You people! We still have 8-11 chapters left! I know what I'm doing. Things really start getting interesting now. So here we go.
Chapter 14: Adapting to School.
Inuyasha stretched and looked around his room. His backpack was full and he had a small box on his bed. The room was empty and looked like a fresh, clean Motel room. School was starting in 2 days. He'd move back into Sesshomaru's house. After their father died, He left his company and house to his eldest son. Inuyasha was going to finally be 18 in a month and he was planning to move out as soon as he could. But then his mind reverted back to the memories here. This was his home for what seemed at first forever, but after he became accustomed to Kagome, 7 fast months. He thought about that night a few weeks ago, when she came to him for a nightmare. A sad thought struck him. What if she had more nightmares? Where would she turn too? Probably Sango. But he knew once he got home, he'll slip into his schedule. At least now he didn't have to wake up till 8am instead of 7am. But his highlights of his mornings lately have been Kagome. To wake in to either see her happy, shining eyes, or her peaceful, sweet sleeping face. He shook his head, he'll adapt. But what about her? He sighed. That was his next task. He had the unpleasant job of having to tell Kagome.
He quietly peeked in on her. She was sitting in the recliner with headphones on and was dancing to herself, bobbing her head as she sang. Inuyasha smiled, but paused at her voice. It was so pretty as she sang off the notes of what sounded like an Amuro Namie song. He listened as she sang,
"…watashi ni motarete naite ii kara
I get, I get, I get, get
the feeling
I get, I get, I get, get the dreaming
Tada kono mama
Come my way
Kono yami no hotori
Come close to me
Ima akari tonoshi
I'll be with you, I'll be with you...
Tada soba ni iru kara
So Come my way…"
He snickered a bit how she stumbled over some words, especially the English words. She had no clue what they were, but she still attempted to sing them. But he sighed and came in and slowly walked to her, sad that he had to disturb her. He kneeled in front of her and slid back the earphones off her head so they'd hang off their neck. Kagome opened her eyes to see his amber ones. She smiled excitedly and exclaimed,
"Inuyasha!"
He smiled lightly at her, before he realized how much he'll miss these moments. Kagome put a hand on his and asked in a soft, concerned voice,
"Are you ok?"
Inuyasha sighed and grabbed both her hands,
"I need to tell you something."
Kagome already got a worried look and slowly nodded in a 'go on' fashion. Inuyasha took a breath and said slowly,
"Well…Kagome…I'm moving away."
"What!" He already smelt the saline. He put a hand on her shoulder and said,
"Just listen, ok?"
She sadly nodded. He sighed and continued,
"I'm moving out today, back to my house. I'm started school on Monday…"
He couldn't look into her lost eyes as he continued,
"…But good news is is every day after school, I'll come here to be with you. I just won't be here till 3:30pm and I'll be here 3 and a half hours a day. I'll still train you and we'll at dinner, have speech and then I'll go home…"
"…Only 3 ½ hours!!"
Inuyasha looked at her horrified face and held her cheek to wipe away a stray tear as he continued,
"But on Saturdays and most of Sunday I'll be here most all day. On Saturdays, I'll come at 9am and won't leave still after I put you to bed. Sundays I'll be here at 10 and leave at 7pm….I…"
She was truly heartbroken and she began to shiver. He sighed then she threw herself on him and cried,
"Please! Don't leave me! Don't leave me alone!"
He drew her back enough to look at her.
"Look, you are not alone! You have Sango and those girls in your school you like to hang out with."
She leaned onto his shoulder and sobbed and said quietly,
"But they aren't you."
That pulled at his heartstrings but at the same time made him blush, then he held her close and said,
"Don't worry. You'll get used to it. I'll see you every day. I'm not leaving you. I'll just not be here as much."
Then the question he dreaded,
"What if I have another bad dream? I'll have no one who can protect me!"
Inuyasha sighed and thought fast,
"Go get Kirara! She's full fire neko (cat) youkai. She's a lot stronger then I. I'm only half youkai."
Though inside he'd die then let a cat youkai show him up. Kagome snuggled into his chest,
"I'm still scared."
Inuyasha stroked her hair and nuzzled into her head as he whispered,
"Kagome, you are safe. Nothing will happen to you and I'll see you every day, but please understand. School if very, very important. You need to go to school to learn to be able to get a good job and make money to have a house, car and a family."
Kagome looked up at him from his chest and asked,
"So if you go to school, you can get married and have a house and everything?"
Inuyasha inside didn't really like what that comment implied. Did she actually think what he thought? She's still so innocent and naïve. He had a feeling he should just say what she wanted too hear, plus it was the truth partially. So he nodded and said,
"Yes…And you work hard in your school! If you remember and get good enough, we'll go to the same school!"
He kicked himself inside. What was he thinking?! If she went to his school, it'd ruin him and his reputation. Everyone knows Kagome and Inuyasha are mortal enemies and if she went there, she'd be wanting to be with him, which would not do in more ways than one. One was him hanging out with a "retard" would hurt his reputation badly, but the protective side of him knew he hung out with people who would love to take advantage of the beautiful, pure, innocent Kagome. She'd be meat to wolves. But his thoughts broke when she said,
"Really?"
Inuyasha nodded,
"Yeah…sure! Kagome you are getting smarter and you make me so happy, please don't be like this, for me? Be brave for me."
"You promise you'll be here everyday?"
He held her tight,
"I promise."
Kagome nodded,
"I'm still afraid…I still don't want to let you go."
"I don't want to go either, but I need to. I'll return later…"
"Wait! Just…hold me a bit more…please."
Inuyasha was kicking himself inside. How could he sell himself out so easy just to keep this girl from being afraid and sad? Was all this so he'd have nothing to add to his already struggling guilty conscience? Though he clinched his teeth, he obeyed her request and held her to him. She held onto him like if she leg go, he would dissolve in front of her. He nuzzled into her hair and stroked her silky, ebony hair while with the other hand rubbed her back. He whispered to her,
"Kagome…don't be afraid…be brave for me."
She slowly nodded as she squeaked,
"I'll try…only for you."
He blushed and he fought with it so much. He still didn't want to like her, but why? But she couldn't help but to like her, couldn't help but to want to help her, hold her, protect her. Is this some strange instinct that his Inu youkai blood kicked into him? Or something else? He smiled and laughed softly into her ear in another piece of defeat,
"…Kagome…"
With that she let him go and pasted on a fake smile to show him she'd be brave for him. He couldn't help but too, since she was trying so hard, just for him. Her smile turned into a shocked blush as he gently took her cheek and kissed her softly on the forehead. For a split moment, a shock went through his body. What caused him to do that? He slowly drew back from her forehead to a blushing, awe-struck Kagome. He stood up and ruffled her hair playfully before walking to the door saying,
"I'll be back in a few hours…"
He turned to her and winked while saying,
"Jaa, Ka-Go-Me…"
And he was gone. She sat a moment and touched her forehead softly, then her heated cheeks before she smiled really big and continued to listen to her music while thinking,
'I'll be brave for you…Inuyasha'
X-X- X-X- X-X-
Inuyasha watched out of the cab window as he left the rehab center. Part of him was happy, part of him was sad as the face of Kagome flooded his thoughts. He touched his lips from the kiss on her forehead. It was only her forehead, why'd it have such an effect on him? He didn't let it bother him as he watched the countryside quickly turn into the city streets of outer Tokyo. About 15 minutes later he was there. He looked up at the huge house that he called "Home" since he was young. It was at the edge of the neighborhood that Kagome used to live in. The gated fence opened and the taxi pulled in as 2 butlers waited for him.
"Nice to see you back Inuyasha-sama" One older one said. He just nodded partially sad.
X-X- X-X-
Monday. The day he dreaded. He was dressed in his freshly dry cleaned black, boy's school uniform with a bit of white which peeked from the undershirt. He sometimes wished that Japan would take after America and they dress however they wanted. He swung his portfolio bag over his shoulder as he headed to first period of his Senior year. One more year of this hell. Thank Kami-sama. Most of the day consisted of teachers saying "Okaeri (Welcome Back) Gin-san" and his friends wanting to hear about all the delinquent antics he's been up too and what was it like cleaning up after "retards and old farts". He dare not tell them of Kagome so he put on a façade and he talked tough and trash. It was good to be back in life, with his friends, with civilization. But he couldn't help but to constantly think of Kagome. Most his day consisted of looking out of the window and spacing out with memories and thoughts of Kagome, including, 'I wonder how Kagome's doing…I wonder what she's doing right now…' and he watched the clock, just wanting it to strike 3… it crept there.
X-X- X-X-
Kagome stared at the clock. This had been the longest day of her life. She was lonely and bored most of the day. All what was on her mind was Inuyasha. The clock was near 3:30pm. Her heart rate was up and she could feel overwhelming anticipation. It had not occurred to her till today how much she actually did care about him. She found a new emotion, she found a bit of determination. Determination to make Inuyasha happy, to do good in school so she'd be with him at his school so she could be with him and marry him and… She paused a moment…Marriage….Wedding night… She blushed bright red and shivered "eew"…Maybe
That could wait. She jumped up from her chair when she heard his voice say,
"Oi! Kagome! I'm Ba…"
"Inuyasha!!!!"
She ran full speed and ran into him at full force, he used his free hand to steady himself as she hooked around him. She squeezed him and squealed,
"You are back! I missed you so much!"
Inuyasha blushed but flatly said,
"I've been gone a day…"
She looked at him with a pouty face and asked,
"You didn't miss me?"
Inuyasha gulped and stared at her a moment before hugging her back with one hand, the other behind his back,
"Of course I did Baka!"
Kagome smiled and released him and stood back as he walked up to her and said,
"I got you something today…"
Her eyes got big and shimmered like brown-cobalt pieces of obsidian,
"Really?!"
Inuyasha nodded and brought in from of him a stuffed white dog with pointed ears. She giggled in pure delight as Inuyasha held him up to by his face,
"You like him?"
She squealed,
"I love him!"
Inuyasha then said,
"Good, because he is your guard dog. He is to take care of you when I'm not with you. He'll bite anyone bad if they get to close to you and protect you at night,"
He made the stuffed dog look at him,
"Isn't that right?"
Kagome giggled when Inuyasha made the dog look at her and nod. Inuyasha handed the dog to her and she hugged it childishly and said,
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!"
Inuyasha couldn't help but to smile at the scene…to make Kagome's day. He asked,
"What are you going to call him?"
Still cuddling the dog she said,
"Inu-chan."
Inuyasha was taken back on the inside from it, but smiled and laughed,
"I'm glad you like…Inu-chan".
The name made him cringe a bit because over confident girls at school tended to call him Inu-chan.
He happily said to her,
"I'm very glad you like it…"
She paused to look at him with that innocent smile that almost made him have to sit down, but it surprised him when she hugged him and bent his head down and gently kissed his forehead. Inuyasha froze as her silky, feather-soft lips touched his forehead. He smiled at him and continued to gush over the dog. Inuyasha stood there, feeling a wave of emotions rise over him. He watched the young girl dance gleefully around with the dog, the cuteness engulfing the room. He so wanted to do it,,, he fought it for her… He just daydreamed of grabbing her and kissing her deeply… He shook his head and growled at himself inside,
'What the hell!? Where'd that come from!?'
but as he watched, he realized how much of a mistake that would be in more ways then one. She gave him the same innocent, but passion dipped look as she did in the Lorikeet cage in the zoo. He felt himself feel hot and shiver. He gulped and said,
"Kagome? I need to use your bathroom."
And he rushed in there and closed the door, he ran to the sink and splashed cold water on his face then sat on the toilet to think through the burst of very strong, new emotions.
"Wha…What…In the Hell… Just happened?"
He was shaking a bit and tried to come to his wits. He was here for Kagome and that's what he'd concentrate on that…though when he watched his watch he cursed under his breath,
"Time for physical training. Damn that's not going to help my current state."
He took a breath and exited the bathroom to see Kagome in her chair cradling the dog. He thought,
'I'm, in hell.'
He looked into the dressing mirror and hissed to his reflection in his head
'Get a hold of yourself you bloody horn-dog'
He felt guilty. She was still so young and innocent in mind, even though, unfortunately, her body told a very much different story... But now she had the brain of more a 7 year old. She's been recuperating quickly now. He shook himself and pasted a smile,
"Come on, time for training."
"Can Inu-chan come too?"
He rubbed behind his neck,
"I guess."
She got up as they walked to the gym. To Inuyasha's relief, it seemed his instincts were held at bay, but what has been triggering these feelings? Maybe Myouga, his family advisor knows. He'll have to ask him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX-
A/N: DUN DUN DUN! Maybe there's more to Inuyasha's warming up to here then just melting :P LOL It gets interesting :P But 4 updates in 1 week… Not bad if I must say.
Till Next time…kudos…
