Between The Lines
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 22
Packing had never been on Kagome's "List of Favorite Things To Do", and she reminded herself of this each time she chose something, folded it neatly and put it into the small travel case on her bed only to look down at it, snatch it up and throw it out.
She was nervous. She was excited. She was going away for the weekend with Kouga - something she'd never done before. It made her nearly quiver with weakness to think of being at his mercy, subject to his every whim and desire for two entire days. She looked up once this thought crossed her mind and burst out with a loud laugh because Kouga was probably feeling the exact same way! She couldn't remember a time when she'd physically ached for a man- a boy- whatever! Now she was nearly trembling. She knew she'd have to get her "sketching brain" in order but thinking of Kouga sitting in front of her, splayed there… displayed there… naked, nude, bare, exposed, uncovered… OHGOD! Was it hot, she wondered or was it just her state of mind?
"Shit.", she mumbled, picking up three pairs of panties, a bra, three t-shirts, three pairs of very brief shorts- for the comfort of course! Things she'd previously packed neatly but then discarded, she now stuffed into her bag. Going into the bathroom, she grabbed her toothbrush, a hair brush and some ponytail elastics. Her eyes lit on the small pale pink compact of birth control pills sitting inside the little drawer where her toothbrush had rested and she grabbed them up, sticking them into the pocket of her jeans.
"No little wolfs, not yet…", she mumbled to herself as she threw the remainder of her things into her bag and zipped it shut. Picking up her backpack, she unzipped it and peered inside, everything she needed was there. On impulse, she reached for her camera and tucked it inside as well. She didn't want to forget a single thing about this weekend.
"Ok, I'm ready. I'm ready.", she sang to herself as she looked about her room and then smiling, closed the door. Turning, she went into the living room and set her bags down onto the sofa, hearing InuYasha in the kitchen puttering around. She walked to the doorway and leaned there, watching him as he made himself a sandwich. A HUGE sandwich.
Had she ever noticed just how nice a bottom he had? She didn't think so. Her eyes rested there as she watched him shift from foot to foot, intent on making his sandwich just perfect. He made her laugh that way; he could be messy as hell but his damned sandwiches belonged in a food magazine or a cook book. He was a sandwich artist! That thought made her giggle and turning quickly, thumb stuck in his mouth sucking off a little smudge of mayo, he raised a brow.
"I thought you were gone already.", he said as he licked his other fingers.
"I thought you were too.", she said, smiling at him.
"Nah, not yet. Want a bite?", he asked, turning to pick up his sandwich.
"Sure. You always make the most beautiful sandwiches, InuYasha!", she grinned and met him halfway across the room. He held the sandwich out toward her and she smiled, closed her eyes and took a bite. He watched her, his heart in his throat. Oh God how he loved her, so much it nearly drove the breath from his body! She opened her eyes and looked at him, a question there then gone.
"Good?", he managed with a smile.
"Better than good! Excellent! You make killer sandwiches, baby!", she laughed.
"Thanks.", he grinned, taking a bite and chewing as he looked down at her.
"So, you getting ready for Sango?", she asked, rounding her eyes innocently up at him.
"Ready for her? Should I be? Is she certifiable or something? Does she come with a warning label?", he smiled, going to the fridge for a beer.
"No but I thought you might just be… umm, nervous?", she asked and watched as he balanced his food in one hand while popping the top on his beer with the other. He had worn a navy blue long sleeved t-shirt that he'd pushed up to his elbows and as he sipped at his beer; her eyes strayed to his forearms, tanned and strong then to his hands so big and she shivered a tiny bit, closed her eyes and looked away. What the hell was wrong with her? It almost felt incestuous… Jeez! That thought should've stopped her cold.
"I'm not nervous but I think YOU are.", he said as he walked to the table to sit down.
"Me? I'm not nervous. I'm fine. Excited, impatient but nervous? No!", she said and walked over to the sink. Space, breathe, think…
He watched her, his eyes drinking her in, wanting to beg her not to go, wanting to take her with him and love her all weekend long, wanting to make her see what love was really about.
"Kagome?", he said, taking another bite of his sandwich.
"Yeah, InuYasha.", she murmured, her mind on the very graphic dream she'd had of him a few nights before. She closed her eyes, bit her lip and tried to make it go away. What was WRONG with her?
"Where's Kouga?", he asked.
She opened her eyes looking out at the parking lot.
"Getting gas.", she said absently.
"You gonna call me when you get there, let me know you're OK? Safe?", he asked before he thought better of it.
"Yeah.", she said softly, her mind replaying the way he'd talked to her in the dream, the gentle way he'd loved her. She wondered what kind of lover he was?
"KAGOME?", he said loudly and she jumped, cleared her throat, took a breath and turned to face him.
"Sorry, what did you say?", she asked.
"I said, are you sure you're OK? I asked if you'd call me when you got to where you were going and you said yes…?", he grinned, sipping his beer. He cocked his head sideways when she still didn't answer him and got up at once, going to her.
"Something's wrong, what is it?", he asked, bending his knees to try to look her in the eye.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm just… ready to go.", she said.
"Me too.", he replied.
"You better behave, InuYasha.", she said, her former lighthearted mood resurfacing quickly.
"Oh please! Me? I'm as innocent as a choir boy!", he said and flashed her a cheeky grin.
"InuYasha? Did I ever tell you that you're quite handsome?", she asked and smiled up at him.
"No but thanks for waiting till right now.", he laughed.
"Do you believe in dreams, InuYasha?", she asked suddenly and he saw the pink of another pretty blush staining her cheeks.
"You mean like prophecy, or what?", he asked her.
"No, just… well, yeah… like things, what they mean, I guess.", she said, looking at her hands. He took her hands in his and held them between the two of them, waiting for her to look up at him. Finally she did.
"I screwed you up with that kiss, didn't I?", he asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"No, not at all. I wasn't thinking of THAT kiss.", she said and caught herself but he let it go. Something was going on with her, he wasn't sure what but he knew it was something she wanted to keep within herself and that was OK with him.
The honking of her car horn was the next sound they both heard and she jumped and then laughed.
"Damn that Kouga, he knows I hate when he does THAT!", she laughed, her eyes twinkling merrily.
"Have fun, Kagome. See you on Sunday?", he said.
"You bet. You have fun too.", she said and standing on tiptoe, reached for his face. He felt his heart nearly jump from his chest as she pulled his face down to within her reach, placing her lips over his for a heartbeat and then pulling back.
"No matter what, I love you, InuYasha. Never doubt it.", she said.
"Ditto, Kagome. Now get out of here before Kouga comes in after you. He has NO patience, get on with you!", he grinned.
"Bye, InuYasha.", she said , throwing him a look back over her shoulder as she walked out of the kitchen to grab her bags.
"Bye.", he answered, following her to the door. He lifted his hand to Kouga who waved back as he stood outside the car waiting for Kagome. As InuYasha watched, Kouga met her halfway, reaching for her bags. He saw her pull her backpack toward her, cradling it in her arms and smiled, his throat aching…
Don't, you don't have to save my life
No, you're not ready i can feel it
Outside its raining but i'll just go home
Someday your heart will just let him go
As soon as you get that feeling
You can start to live again
As soon as the worst is over
You can make it all make sense
Right now I can give you want you need
As soon as you get that feeling...
Run to me
Hush, you don't have to say a word
Trust, I'm not going to hate you for it
Feels like my touch only brings back the pain
Someday those memories will fade away
As soon as you get that feeling
You can start to live again
As soon as the worst is over
You can make it all make sense
Right now I can give you want you need
As soon as you get that feeling
Run to me
How can I be brave enough to say goodbye
I'd die inside, without you..oohhh
Can't you see it's hard enough to walk away
Don't look at me you make me wrong
I've been through this to make me strong
As soon as you get that feeling
You can start to live again
As soon as the worst is over
You can make it all make sense
Right now I can't give you what you need
As soon as you get that feeling
As soon as you get that feeling
Run to me
Clay Aiken – Run To Me