Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, but I'm still not giving up on it!
Things may seem to move a little fast in this chapter, but I did that to save you from having to go through so many boring filler-chapters.
Chapter 37: Reunited
Shortly after Haru left, InuYasha's door was once more opened. Instead of an inu like InuYasha expected, a little human girl walked in carrying a tray of food. It was Rin, the mortal child that Sesshomaru had rescued and allowed to live with him. She smiled and bowed to InuYasha as she entered the room and laid the tray on the floor to the side.
"Lord Sesshomaru asked me to bring this up for you." She looked around the room, then frowned. "Lady Kagome did not come with you."
InuYasha gulped and shook his head. "She stayed in the village."
"Oh. I was hoping while you and Lord Sesshomaru were out her and I could play together. I guess I'll just have to play with Master Jaken. He's really not all that bad once you get to know him. He's actually kind of sweet sometimes. Lord Sesshomaru says he's worthless, but I don't think that's how he really feels, because he used to say the same thing about you. I wasn't suppose to hear any of that, I think, but Lord Sesshomaru really wouldn't mind if I told him I did." The little girl kept going on and on.
"I'm sure he wouldn't." InuYasha picked up the tray, sniffed, and started eating some of the food, taking gulps of water in between bites.
"I heard you talking to Lord Sesshomaru downstairs. He's already telling Haru and the other castle guards that he may be gone for a few days. I want to go too but I don't think he'll let me go this time. Haru says I really don't belong here, anyway. I don't think he likes humans too much, but Lord Sesshomaru makes him be nice to me. Though he's really not that nice; he doesn't talk to me or anything. He says I talk too much and I'm just a burden to the castle. Do you think I talk too much?"
InuYasha swallowed the food in his mouth. "No more than the wench does. No wonder you wanted her to come here."
Rin giggled. "Well I better go back downstairs. Lord Sesshomaru said you are to be left alone. Although I think he really meant to say no one is allowed to fight with you while you are staying here."
InuYasha nodded and watched as the little girl left the room, slowly closing the door behind her. He sighed, almost wishing the girl would come back in. He really couldn't believe he missed everything about Kagome, including her mindless ranting. Without her around always talking it was too quiet. His entire body ached for her, especially his ears. His ears missed her the most. InuYasha set aside the rest of the food. All of a sudden he wasn't very hungry. InuYasha's ears tweaked toward the door. Somebody was coming back up the stairs, trying not to be heard.
He placed one hand on Tetsusaiga and waited. He sniffed, then sighed; lowering his hand from his sword. "If you're coming in, then get in." The door slowly opened and Rin stood before him. "What do you want now?" he asked in a friendly tone.
She was dragging a fresh blanket and futon from behind her. "No one has used this room since I've been here. Everything is so old, so I thought you would like some newer things." The girl walked over and rolled out the futon, placing the blanket on top. Then she grabbed the other futon and blanket, gathering them into a pile in her arms. "There. That's better." She smiled at InuYasha.
"Uh, thanks." He was feeling a little awkward. The only kid he's ever really been around was Shippou, and he was always a pain. InuYasha could see why Sesshomaru liked having her around.
"Well, goodnight InuYasha-sama." She bowed and left once again.
"Not such a bad kid at all." He said to himself. He hadn't really planed on sleeping at all, much less on that dingy old futon that was cluttered in the room. But at the sight of the new comfy futon and blanket, he realized how tired he was. InuYasha decided to make the best of it, laying down and falling into a light sleep.
The next morning he was already up and ready by the time Haru came by to announce that Lord Sesshomaru was ready for him. InuYasha followed the inu down the stairs to the first room. His brother was sitting at the end of the table, Rin standing not too far from his side. She gave InuYasha a meek grin, InuYasha nodded his head slightly in her reply. Sesshomaru ignored the gesture.
"How far is this place, Sesshomaru?" InuYasha finally spoke up, since his brother didn't seem to care much for anything.
"The miko described a place about a days worth of travel from here. It is further west in the valley's of this mountain. If she is correct, we should be able to find Suoh there."
"Then we leave now." InuYasha stated.
"Of course." His brother replied.
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InuYasha growled in frustration. Two freakin days and still nothing! Not even a scent. Maybe Kagome was wrong. Maybe Suoh really is dead. Then I came all the way out here for nothing! He thought to himself. He and Sesshomaru had search high and low for Suoh, deep in the valleys were Kagome had said she'd seen him, then further up the mountains just to make sure he hadn't ran to hide. InuYasha was really beginning to think that Kagome's dream was just that; a dream and nothing more. But he remembered the pure look of terror on the miko's face when she told him Suoh was still alive. He trusted her, with all his heart he trusted her.
Sesshomaru had been pressuring him too. He didn't know Kagome like InuYasha did, though. He didn't know how sincere her statements had been made, but he surprisingly continued to help out his little half-brother, reluctantly, but he still helped. It wasn't really as bad as InuYasha thought it would be, traveling with his brother and all. Sesshomaru really didn't pay any mind to InuYasha, and InuYasha in return only occasionally asked questions about other locations. They hadn't raised their voices each other once since they left the castle together. InuYasha expected at least one full out brawl, and of course a lot of words exchanged, but there was nothing.
InuYasha looked up to the setting sun and sighed. Good thing they were on their way back from the mountains. They were only hours away from the castle, and InuYasha knew he should be there tonight. The night of the new moon. Sesshomaru had simply nodded in agreement when InuYasha told him they should go back for a night and rethink their plans. His brother knew of InuYasha's human night, and most likely knew that that was the reason of going back. He didn't really care, not anymore. He had dropped his pride ages ago. All he wanted was to get rid of Suoh once and for all and return to his wench with her soft ear rubs. Just the thought of his ears being back in her hand made him whimper. Sesshomaru gazed at him questioningly. InuYasha ignored it and continued toward the castle.
They made it back half an hour after the sun had set. The human InuYasha yawned and headed up the stairs to his room, only to be stopped by Rin.
"InuYasha-sama, you look different. What happened to your silver hair? Did a youkai do that to you? What kind of youkai would change people's hair color?" the little girl went on and on with her questions as InuYasha dragged his feet up the long stairway, nodding and noting a few 'uh huh's along the way.
"Rin, there you are!" the little green imp, Jaken, yelled from the bottom of the stairs. It was the first time InuYasha had ever been happy to hear his voice. "Lord Sesshomaru said to leave InuYasha alone. Now off to bed with you!"
"Yes, Master Jaken." Rin turned and bowed to InuYasha before running down the steps to her room. Jaken lingered behind for a few moments, giving a disapproving look to InuYasha, then turned down the same why Rin had left in. He opened the door to his room and flopped down on the futon. If he had been hanyou, he wouldn't have been fazed at all by the traveling. But his human body was weak; tired. He removed his haori and undershirt, then pulled the blanket over his head and soon fell fast asleep.
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Kagome had been traveling four days now, and she and Kilala were once again stopping for a rest. Kilala was dozing at Kagome's feet, while she ate a bit of the food she had brought with her. Mostly it was just fruits, things she could carry and not worry about having to cook. Despite being tired and hungry for most of the trip, she was happy. She was finally going to see InuYasha. Though, she knew he was probably going to be mad at her. But after she tells him what she found out, she doubted he would be mad anymore, or either it would make him even more mad…
Kagome shook the thought away. She didn't feel like thinking about things like that. "Kilala, are you ready to go?" the cat looked up and mewed, transforming into her bigger state. Kagome packed everything back into her bag and hopped on. Having to stop so much really left her short on time, but true to his word Kilala made sure Kagome stopped at least twice during the day and three times at night. Kagome was nearly there. Every minute that passes she sensed InuYasha getting closer. She still couldn't sense Suoh anywhere. It was like he was somehow hiding his aura.
"Tonight," Kagome started. "we'll get to the castle sometime late tonight. InuYasha will already be human, but at least I'll still get there in time." Kilala roared in agreement under her. Kagome giggled. "Then I'll make sure he catches you a nice fish dinner with a platter of milk on the side." She still didn't know what she was going to do as soon as she reached the castle. She played every scenario through her mind at least twice; each time she was being yelled at in the end by InuYasha. She sighed. There was no way around that, InuYasha would be mad at her for going, even if it was killing her to stay behind and just wait for him to return. Maybe she had a few things to yell about too. 'Sit'ing him a few hundred times would make him quiet before he had the chance to yell.
It seemed like days passed to Kagome, but really only a few hours had gone by when the sky darkened and the sun began to set. She watched as the last of the sun's rays faded into the horizon, and a moonless night sky surrounded her and Kilala. "We'll get there, Kilala. It's not too far now, and InuYasha has just transformed. I just hope he is at Sesshomaru's castle." The cat sped up, knowing how much it meant to Kagome for her to be with InuYasha as soon as possible.
Finally, a little over an hour after the sun had set, Kilala touched ground outside of Sesshomaru's castle. Now that she was there, she suddenly became very nervous. "What do you think, Kilala?" she asked the cat. Kilala looked up at her and gave a soft meow in response. "Alright. We'll go in." She walked closer, into the torch light radiating from the castle walls.
"What do you think you're doing human!" came a harsh voice. Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin.
"I-I'm looking for someone."
"Be on your way. There are no humans here." She recognized the voice was coming from an inu-youkai standing in front of the door. His hair was silver, like InuYasha's, but shorter only going down to his shoulders. The inu had blue youkai marks across his face and on his wrists. At least she now knew she was at the right castle. There was no doubt that Sesshomaru and InuYasha were kin to this inu.
"I'm looking for InuYasha. I-is he here?" she waited for his answer.
The inu growled. "Wait here." He entered the door and closed it shut behind him. A few minutes later her reemerged, accompanied by Sesshomaru and Rin.
"Lady Kagome! It's so nice to see you well!" Kilala jumped into the little girls arms. Rin gratefully petted the cat.
"Rin. Go to your room. It is late for you to still be up."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru. Lady Kagome, may Kilala stay with me tonight?"
"Of course, Rin." Kagome patted her head and watched and she climbed the stairs to her room. Then she turned to Sesshomaru.
"Why are you here, miko? My brother ordered you to stay in the village with the monk and exterminator, did he not?"
"So, InuYasha is here?" she asked meekly. He nodded. "Can I…see him?"
"Haru." The inu came and stood by him. "Take the miko to InuYasha. She will be staying with him for as long as he is here." Haru glance Kagome over with a looked of disgust, but eventually complied to his Lord's will. Kagome followed from far behind. When they reached the second flight of stairs, Haru stood at the bottom and merely pointed to the door at the top, turning his back to Kagome and walking away in a huff. She walked up the steps, and turned pushed open the door.
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InuYasha woke suddenly, groaning at the noise that had awaken him from his much needed sleep. He didn't have his hanyou senses, but the pounding of footsteps on the stone floor echoed from below the stairs. He could barely tell with his human ears, but two people stopped at the bottom, one turning back, and the lighter of the two heading up to his room. It had to be that human child coming up to annoy him again. He heard the door open, then close again.
"Look, kid, I appreciate everything but I need my sleep so get out!" he didn't mean to be so rude, but this was the first time he was able to sleep in days, and he wasn't about to let the human girl keep him awake.
"InuYasha…"
He knew that voice, and it wasn't Rin's. "Kagome?" he turned his head, startled at what his eyes saw. "Kagome!" It was her! It was Kagome! Wait…she wasn't supposed to be there, she was supposed to be in the village. Was this just another dream he was having? Would he wake right before he touched her, alone in this room? Part of him didn't want to chance it, but the other part had to know. He stood to his feet, slowly walking over to her side. He reached out his hand, and gently touched her cheek. He felt her warm, soft skin press back against his palm.
"InuYasha!" his miko screamed. She jumped into his arms wrapping herself tightly against him. InuYasha held her tight, like if he held her loosely she would fade away like in his dreams, and he couldn't handle that, not tonight, not now after hearing her sweet voice. Then he felt wetness seeping down his exposed chest. His Kagome was crying. Why was she crying? Why did she seem upset?
"Kagome…what…why-are you crying?" he let her back away a bit to look into his eyes. She was smiling despite her tears.
"I missed you so much. I had to come, InuYasha, please, just understand I couldn't stay there without you. I couldn't…"
He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "Shhh. It's okay, Kagome. It's my fault for leaving you like I did." He leaned his forehead against hers. "I missed you too, Kagome. I just wanted you to be safe."
"InuYasha, I-I need to tell you something, but I-I…" she was cut short. InuYasha had twisted her around, his hands holding her just below her hips. He began to nuzzle the back of her neck, nipping her shoulder, and laying a trail of chaste kisses everywhere he could. His Kagome was back with him, where she belonged. He didn't want to talk anymore, he was done with talking; he just wanted to remember what he had lost while they were separated. Kagome didn't seem to mind being cut off like he did, gasping as he reached to nibble at her ear. He had missed that sound. He turned her around, gazing deep into her eyes. Without hesitation he lowered his lips to hers.
He gave all his passion into that kiss, all his love, everything he had he was giving it to her. He moved his hands, pushing up the bottom of Kagome's shirt where he could feel the soft skin beneath. Her own hands were content feeling around on his exposed chest, the tips of her fingers tickling him slightly. He nibbled on her bottom lip, receiving a low moan in response. His tongue traced her lips, asking for entrance. Her lips parted, and he devoured her completely. She complied to everything he asked. One hand moved up and down on her stomach, the other pushed at the small of her back to make her as close to him as possible. His thigh rubbed against hers, causing him to growl with pleasure. With another gasp from her lips InuYasha pushed her down onto the futon.
He pinned her arms above her head, one knee positioned between her legs to keep himself from crushing her. This time he didn't even ask as he plunged his tongue back into her mouth, tasting everything she was, everything he knew, everything he wanted. As he moved his hands down to her sides, he used his body weight to pin her down, breaking the kiss to catch his breath. Kagome giggled, reaching up to kiss his cheek. Mine. He thought. She's all mine. "I love you Kagome."
"I love you, InuYasha."
A/N:
This story is above all a romance story, so of course there is going to be more fluff than anything, but for the action lovers, the big fight is coming up soon enough, so you'll just have to wait a little longer!