CHAPTER NINE
TRUTH REPRESSED
The sun was rising over Jinenji's forest as the hanyou stirred in his branch. He found it a bit difficult to move and realized it was because he had a human sleeping on him, hugging his shoulders together so that he couldn't get away. It was pure bliss to see Kagome sleeping with him. She looked so peaceful, as if she knew that she was safe. He picked her up gently and swiftly jumped off the tree. She slept the whole way back to Jinenji's hut. When he pulled the front surtain to the side he found all of his friends sound asleep. Quickly and quietly, Inuyasha placed Kagome on her sleeping bag and put a blanket on her. He tried to get his shirt off her, but she was holding onto it with a death grip. After struggling with the sleeping girl's fingers for a bit he gae up and got his himono, which she had been wearing earlier and had folded neatly beside Shippou. As he picked it up, Kagome's smell wafted up to his nose. It was enough to put a smile on his face. Putting on his himono, Inuyasha took a deep breath and stealthely departed from the hut.
Kagome woke up in the dark hut. Her heart instantly sank. 'Was it all a dream?' she asked herself as she sat up. Everyone was already up and getting ready to leave. She looked around and found Inuyasha nowhere in sight. 'It was all a dream. He's not even here....' her thoughts were interrupted by a tiny kitsune that jumped onto her lap. "Shippou, I'm so glad that you feel better." Shippou smiled up at her and then got a bit closer. "Kagome, don't you think that Inuyasha's acting a bit strange?" This alarmed Kagome. "What do you mean Shippou?" The little youkai looked at her seriously. "Well, he was nice to me for one. And he didn't eat my food. It was weird." Kagome looked at Shippou carefully. "Shippou, he's always nice to you, he just showed more than usual last night because of what had happened to you. We were all worried that you might not make it." These words seemed to soothe the kitsune a bit, but something still remained. "Well then what about his shirt. We found it on you this morning. Sango took a really long time getting it from you. Like if you wouldn't let it go. Why did he put his shirt on you in the middle of the night? You already had a blanket on."
'His shirt! He put it on me last night because it was cold outside! It wasn't a dream!!'
With her head still in the clouds, Kagome jumped up and ran out.
Shippou, who had been thrown from the over eager girl's lap, fell to the floor with a soft thud and looked at the doorway that Kagome had disappeared through. "What's up with her?" he asked no one in particular.
Outside Kagome sprinted through the fields. "Good morning Jinenji-sama!!" She called out cheerfully at the large hanyou bent over caring for the gardens. "Good morning Kagome-sama" he waved at her. "Have you seen Inuyasha?" She asked as she ran by. "He said something about getting some fish from a near by stream. It's that way." Ad before Jinenji could bid her farewell, Kagome had turned in the direction of his finger and was tearing through the brush, running to the stream. She had only been running for a few minutes when she heard running water. With her heart racing, Kagome broke through the last bit of leaves to see the stream right at her feet. It was too late, she balanced herself on the very edge for a second before she fell into the rushing water.
Inuyasha had been fishing for a few hours already. There was a large pile of fish on the banks by now, but that didn't matter. He was actually just doing this to get Kagome off of his mind........Kagome....... her name seemed to echo in his head every time that he thought of it. He didn't know what to do. Why did he feel this way..... why couldn't he stop thinking about her. He turned around and looked at his himono which he had carefully placed far away from the stream. He usually didn't mind getting it wet, but for some reason he did now. It was the scent. Kagome's scent was all over that himono and if he got it wet the scent would fade. He took his eyes off of the himono and looked into the water.
'Concentrate! You need to catch some fish!'
But his thoughts went hazy when Kagome's scent reached his nose. She was coming and she was coming fast! His heart started racing and he made to get of the water to see her, but no sooner had he turned to swim ashore had Kagome broken through the brush overhead and fallen into the water right beside him. Inuyasha plunged in after her and pulled her up to the rocky banks of the stream.
Kagome focused on the golden eyes staring back at her. 'Inuyasha' She thought hazily and then drifted back out of consiousness.
When she awoke again she was lying in Jinenji's hut. There were bandages on her head. She looked up and found Inuyasha sitting indian style beside her. His arms folded across tessaiga, the hanyou seemed to be guarding something. At the sign of Kagome waking up though, he turned to her and frowned. "Stupid, why did you come to the stream without knowing where it was? Something could have happened....." but Kagome had placed har hand on his and he simply lost his train of thought. He wasn't mad anymore. Just worried. Kagome sat up and felt her head. "Was I bleeding?" she looked at the hanyou, "No, but you always put those thing on me when I get hurt. I thought they might help." Kagome smiled at his thoughtfulness and took the bandages off of her head. She would have explained how they were only to soak up blood, but Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and Shippou had walked in and were all talking at once. Everyone seemed to want to know what had happened. "Didn't Inuyasha tell you?" Kagome asked them. Shippou jumped up on her shoulder, "He just told us that you were clumsy and fell into the stream, but I'll bet he's just mad because he had to carry both you and the fish back to the hut."
(SMACK)
Inuyasha had placed a balled up fist on Shippou's head. Kagome seemed to not notice this, she was too busy staring at the hanyou. 'Should I tell everyone about us? But what if I'm wrong..... what if it was an accident.... what if he really doesn't love me.......' Kagome was pondering about this when Inuyasha's voice brought her back to reality. "I already told you guys, she fell into the stream and hit her head on the bottom! What's so hard to believe about that??!!" 'I'll wait for him to say something. That way I'll be sure about how he feels.'
It had only been a few minutes and already Miroku had noticed the tenson growing between Inuyasha and Kagome. He smiled to himself and wondered when those two were going to grow up and act their age. At this he reached for Sango's behind and was quickly plowed by the hiraikotsu. After letting the stars settle around his eyes, the houshi sighed heavily and walked over to Jinenji. "Thank you for your kindness." he bowed in front of the horse faced hanyou and walked out the door. "So long jinenji." Sango called out as she also departed. Inuyasha simply waved and left. Only Kagome and Shippou were laft at this point. "We'll see you later, ok Jinenji?" the hanyou nodded, "take care of your mother." With that Kagome made for the door, but something stopped her.
"He really cares about you, you know."
The words had frozen her in her spot. "Inuyasha-kun, he was sad when he came back and found out that you had left." For a fleeting moment Kagome tried to envision Inuyasha with a sad look on his face, but it was painful for her. "I know Jinenji, I care about him too." with that she walked out. There were tears in her eyes, but a broad smile on her face.
'Inuyasha, did you tell Jinenji about us?'
They had been traveling for a few hours when a gust of wind tore through the forest right at them. In an instant, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and leapt away from the powerful cyclone that had rushed in from behind them.
'Kouga' Inuyasha thought and a growl escaped from between his fangs. The wolf youkai was standing in the center of the group where the cyclone had been only moments before.
"Yo" Kouga called out to everyone. He whisked over to Kagome and reached out for her hand. He was slightly taken aback when she withdrew behind Inuyasha. "Oh, dog crap, I see you're still alive." Inuyasha shot a glare of hatred at Kouga and snapped back, " and I see you're still chasing your own tail wimpy wolf." Kouga seemed to not hear this insult and turned to Kagome. "Kagome, are you well?" he tried once more to advance on her, but a flash of red covered her. Inuyasha had picked her up and lept backwards away from the wolf. With his fangs bared, the hanyou put a hand on the hilt of the tessaiga and lowered his head like a dog ready to snap. "Inuyasha, calm down," Miroku said before the hanyou unsheathed his powerful demon blade, "What news do you have of Naraku Kouga-sama?" Kouga looked over at the houshi and crossed arms. "I'm hunting that bastard as we speak. I followed his scent to a part of the forest near by and I checked it out. It seems that Naraku had a big fight and barely made it out alive." At this Kagome looked up. "Kouga-kun, how did you know this?" Kouga turned to Kagome with a broad smile. He lept over the protective dog demon and landed squarely in front of her, picking up her hand gently in his. "Don't worry Kagome-sama, I wasn't hurt. I only found out after the battle had happened. It seems that Naraku's looking for a demon with great healing powers and...." but Kouga was cut off by the blade of tessaiga at his throat. It was too fast even for him to move. "Get your hands off her." the hanyou growled furiously. Kagome stared wide eyed at the speed with which Inuyasha had unsheathed tessaiga and placed it expertly at Kouga's neck. The wolf youkai quickly reacted and backed off. Inuyasha moved forward and stood between Kouga and Kagome. His fangs were bared, his tessaiga was out stretched, and his free hand was cracking it's knuckles threateningly.
'Inuyasha. What are you doing?' kagome thought as his blade went back into it's sheath.
"What the hell's your problem dog crap?! If you want to fight just say so!" Kouga seemed to regain his ego now that tessaiga was safely put away. Inuyasha simply stood protectively in front of Kagome, shielding her with his himono and growling at the wolf before him. Kouga weeved and jumped out to get at Kagome but Inuyasha's speed seemed to increase a great deal. Before Kouga landed, the tessaiga smacked him on the head and knocked him sideways. After rolling out of the blade's radius, the wolf youkai stood up and shook a fist at Inuyasha. "What's the matter dog crap? Jealous are we?"
'He is. He's jealous. That's why he won't let Kouga near me' Kagome was saring at Inuyasha with glassy eyes.
"Keh, I just don't want your stench on her. I hate having your reek bother me while I'm trying to sniff out Naraku." at this Inuyasha sheathed his tessaiga and backed away, keeping Kagome behind him at all times.
"Well, anyway, this youkai that Naraku is looking for is supposed to be able to heal itself almost instantly. I guess Naraku wants to absorb it." Miroku looked pensive as the folf finished his words. 'I was right. That's why Naraku wanted Inuyasha. He wants to absorb him.' Kagome's voice brought Miroku out of his trance. "Kouga-kun, what did you see at the battlefield?" At being addressed by Kagome, Kouga stood up srtaight and poised himself in a dignified manner, "It's wasn't what I saw, it was what I smelled that alarmed me," without warning Kouga slipped past Inuyasha and was once more face to face with Kagome, holding her hands. "Your scent was all over that place, and the instant that I noticed it, I knew that this dumb pup had dragged you into danger again. Which is why I came for you. I can no longer trust this pup to take care of you. Come on, let's go." Inuyasha had a hand on the hilt of tessaiga and was about to draw to strike when Miroku interrupted him. "Kouga, there is no demon that Naraku is after. What he is after is here in our group." Kouga turned to the houshi with a surprised look. "What? You mean you caught the demon and you're guarding it from Naraku?" Miroku sighed. Apparently Kouga wasn't very bright. "No, what I mean is that what Naraku wants is right here." Kouga's expression changed from confusion to anger. "What the hell is this dog crap?? You're putting my Kagome in danger by carrying around bait for Naraku??!!"
Inuyasha had been silent since Miroku had started talking. He knew that the houshi was speaking of him. It was Kouga's yelling that made him lose the thought. "Well dog crap?! Don't you have anything to say for yourself??!!" Inuyasha looked up at the woulf youkai long enough to give a dangerous glare. Kouga took a step back at the fang bared look the hanyou gave him, but quickly regained his composure. "Kagome my love, it's time to go." Kagome was standing a few steps away from him, staring deeply at Inuyasha.
'What's he thinking about?' "Kouga-kun, I'm fine here with Inuyasha, he always keeps me out of danger." Kouga would have none of it. "It's dangerous here Kagome, I'll take you somewhere safe. There's a strong youkai close by whom I would trust with my life. She will take good care of you." With that Kouga picked Kagome up and dissapeared in a whirl of dust. Everyone looked on in shock.... everyuone, that is, except Inuyasha. "What are you doing? Let's go after her?!" Shippou had jumped on the hanyou's shoulder and was trying to get him to budge, but he seemed to be completely lost in thought.