CHAPTER EIGHT
The Kiss
"Wake up eerybody, you'll miss supper." Miroku's voice seemed to snap everyone back to life. It was dark outside of Jinenji's hut and a pot of delicious smelling soup stood brewing on a fire. Kagome operend her eyes sleepily and was about to sit up straight when she noticed that she was leaning on something. She looked up to see Inuyasha sitting right next to her, his shoulder acting as a makeshift pillow. His shirt was clean and he had it back on. She was somehow dissapointed about this but she didn't understand why. "You were about to fall over when you fell asleep and he sat next to you te keep you straight... at least that's his story." Kagome looked up and Sango was smiling sweetly down at her. " I don't want to move him," Kagome replied, "he needs his sleep." Sango looked at the tired hanyou and then lifted the spoon that she had in her hand. With a powerful SMACK she brought it down right on his nose.
"AH! What the hell's your problem?!!" Inuyasha had gotten up in a flash. "Dinner's ready." Sango said with a wide smile.
"Keh, thanks for the wake." Inuyasha turned around and took Shippou off Kagome's lap. Then he helped her up. He carried the little kitsune to the pot and sat down around it with the rest. Shippou woke up and found himself on Inuyasha's lap with a bowl of soup in front of him. "Smells good, eh Shippou?" The hanyou was eating his own soup, "I would have let you sleep, but Sango said that you wouldn't get any if you didn't wake up." Shippou shot a hurtful look at Sango and then picked up a spoon to eat. The youkai exterminator gave a harsh look at inuyasha, who responded by sneering at her and throwing a tiny piece of bread at her face. She caught it and threw it at Miroku, who in turn threw it back at Inuyasha, who caught it with his mouth. "Hey, I like the idea of being fed this way." They all had a good laugh and ate their food. "Hey Jinenji, where did you learn to cook?" Inuyasha was looking up at the giant hanyou. "My mother taught me." "Well, she's pretty good. Maybe she can give Kagome a lesson or two." This earned him a "Sit" and a dirty look. But it was all in good fun. "Jinenji-sama, are you sure it's ok for us to stay the night?" Miroku was looking up from his now empty bowl. "Of course, I'm just sorry that I don't have enough room for all of you." "Keh! It's no problem. I'll sleep outside. I could use the fresh air." With that Inuyasha hopped up and walked out the door. "Inuyasha-sama, do you want a blanket?" Jinenji called after him. "Nah! Thanks though!" He called back.
As Kagome watcehd Inuyasha walk out the door, she resisted the urge to walk out with him. She knew that Miroku would never let her live it down. She pulled up a blanket that Jinenji had left for her and laid herself down by the fire with Shippou snuggled up next to her. Moments passed and she couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about what had happened that day. The moments kept running in her mind. Inuyasha missing, Shippou poisoned, the embrace. She focused on the moment when Inuyasha took her into his arms, holding her like if she was his own. Why? Why did he act like that? Did he really like her or was he just ashamed that he wasn't there? And what had happened to him? He hadn't answered that question. Kagome found herself thinking of all the horrible things that gcould have happend to Inuyasha when he dissapeared.
' "Stop it. You know that I hate to see you cry. I'm just glad that you're ok. I'm glad that I got there in time." '
These words played back in Kagome's head. She couldn't stop thinking. It was no use... she wouldn't be able to get any sleep. She picked her head up and scanned the insides of the tiny hut. Miroku and Sango were fast asleep. Jinenji also seemed to be sleeping judging by the way his quilt was rising and falling slowly. Shippou, who was right beside her, also seemed to be having sweet dreams. At least he could sleep. With that Kagome quietly got up and walked out of the hut.
'Where could he be?' She squinted into the darkness before her and walked off in the direction that she thought was best.... she was wrong. She had only taken six steps when her right foot fell in a large hole. She almost screamed, but was propped up quickly by a strong pair of hands. She didn't have to ask who it was.
"Stupid, what are you doing up so late?" Inuyasha whispered in her ear as he helped free her foot fro the confine of the hole. He looked her in the eyes. She looked so beautiful. Her dark hair glistened in the pale moon light, her skin seemed to glow as well. Her eyes were restless and held a hint of longing. Longing for what? What was she thinking about? Why was she out here this late? Was she looking for him? He was pulled out of his trance by her voice.
"Inuyasha."
His eyes widened, she seemed to speak her entire heart by simply pronouncing his name. His mind blurred and his heart started racing. He didn't know what to do... so he spoke out his own heart.
"Kagome."
Their faces met under the moon light and they kissed for the very first time under the night sky. It was a kiss to remember. Inuyasha held her firmly by the waist as he kissed her deeply and she accepted him with all of her heart. Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled as close as she could without causing him any discomfort. Although it only lasted half a minute, the kiss seemed to last for an entire lifetime. When they seperated they knew that the other had meant. How they felt about each other, how they wanted to be with each other for as long as they both lived. They were two different people with the same heart. Meant for each other, longing for each other, loving one another.
"What does this mean?" Inuyasha asked her, still holding her inches away from his face. "You know what this means." A smile played at her cheeks. It was true, he knew what it meant. He knew that she had chosen him. That she loved him. That she wanted him. As he wanted her. "I.... " he wanted so much to tell her how much he wanted her, "I... " he wasnted to tell her how much he needed her, "I..." how much he loved her, "I..... love you, Kagome." It finally escaped his lips. The reaction that he got was something that he hadn't been expecting.
As soon as she heard this, Kagome couldn't hold it in anymore. She let her emotions show and shed her tears of love for him. She knew that he hated to see her cry, but she souldn't stop herself.... she was too happy. "I love you, Inuyasha." She wanted to wake everybody up and tell them all that Inuyasha was hers and hers alone. That they were going to be together just like she had wanted for so long. But she didn't. This moment belonged to them and them alone. She buried her face in his shirt and cried her eyes out, unable to keep herself under control anymore.
'Damn it! I hate to see her cry. Why did I make her cry?' Inuyasha put a hand on her head and stroked her hair. He didn't want to hear her cry. He wanted to see her smile. He wanted to see her laugh. He even prefered to see her angry than to have her cry. He put a finger under her chin and raised her head up to his. This was the only way to make her stop. He pressed his lips against hers and was lost in a world of bliss. Her lips felt like satin and were warm to the touch. His mind was completely blank. Nothing in this world existed for the moments that their lips were one. Everything else melted away and seemed to be meaningless as he stood there with his Kagome in his arms. Nothing existed but them..... them and their love for each other.
"Can I sleep out here with you tonight?" Kagome asked, her face turning a dark shade of red that was noticeable even in the dark. "Ok." Inuyasha whispered and he picked her up to take her up the tree that he had been sleeping in. He noticed that she had left his himono inside and took off his shirt to offer it to her. " No, it's cold, you keep it." The hanyou smiled at her and took the shirt off anyway. "Don't be stupid, I won't get cold. He leaned against the tree and brought her close to him. He then placed his shirt over her and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.
'Good night, my Kagome'
Good night, my Inuyasha'
They both fell asleep in eachother's arms, dreaming sweet dreams of happiness together. For that one night, no trouble existed in the world. Naraku, Hakudoushi, Kagura, Kanna, none of those names had any meaning that night. That night the only names that made sense were Inuyasha and Kagome.