Chapter 6:
Inu-yasha moaned in annoyance as he heard the constant chirping of the birds. Sighing, he opened his eyes and yawned. He looked around the campsite, realizing that it was morning. He also realized that he was on the ground and not in a tree like any other nights. That's because this night was different . . .
He looked down to the girl in his arms, sleeping soundly. After that wild event the following night, Kagome made very little movement in her sleep. The only movement she made was when she was tightening her hold on Inu-yasha's neck, pulling her closer to him. Inu-yasha, of course, never let her go at all. He refused to do so.
Inu-yasha pulled her closer to him in a loving embrace, nuzzling her cheek with his face. Never would he do this if she were awake. Nor would he ever do this in public. But he wanted to breathe in her wonderful scent. Last night practically scared him enough to show any emotion. Even now he was still scared for her. For Kagome.
He mentally laughed. "I guess know how Kagome feels when she feared for my life." It surprised him when she said that she feared for him, when he first transformed into a full-fledged demon. Inu-yasha never understood her meaning before. He thought she was being foolish. "I wonder if she would say the same thing if I told her?" he thought.
He stared down at Kagome in confusion and wonderment. What an interesting feeling he feels now. How could someone so beautiful and so amazing fall into his hands? Never has he seen such a beautiful creation given to him like this. All his life, no one has ever trusted him like this girl.
Suddenly, he stopped, and actually looked at her. Inu-yasha looked into the sleeping face of Kagome, the girl from the future.
Kagome . . .
Such a beautiful creation of God.
Such an innocent human . . .
Inu-yasha studied her face.
Her eyes lightly closed, a small smile on her lips . . .
Her lips . . .
That's when he suddenly realized it.
He knew . . .
For a long time he knew . . .
He wasn't so sure before . . .
Is he sure now?
Is he?
But more importantly, could she----
A sigh brought him back to reality as he felt a shifting in his arms. Inu-yasha looked down at Kagome's face, just to see her flutter her eyes open . . . and smiled at him.
"Inu-yasha . . ." she said softly, ". . . hey."
He just returned the smile. "Hey, yourself."
Kagome's grin spread, then she frowned, lifting her hand to his cheek. "Oh, Inu-yasha," she rubbed her thumb over his cheek, "I'm so sorry for worrying you. You've suffered so much."
Inu-yasha looked at her. "She's apologizing? To me?? Why? I was the one that failed . ." He slightly shook his head. "You shouldn't apologize, Kagome." He looked at her with pained eyes. "I was the one who failed to protect you. I'm the one who should be sorry . . . . as your protector, I should be." He lowered his head, his bangs shading his eyes.
Suddenly, he felt Kagome's arms tighten around his neck, pulling him to her to find himself in her embrace. Somehow, he was grateful as he happily returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around her middle and burying himself in her hair and scent.
"It's ok, Inu-yasha. Don't beat yourself up like this." she said, "you of all people should know that I hate that. You rescued me in the end last night, didn't you?"
"W-Well . . ."
"You did. Why do you think I looked at you through the pain?"
"Yeah, but - - wait. You remember? I though you would have forgotten by now."
"I remember everything. I . . .remember the pain as well." She shivered at the memory. "I was scared for no reason. I thought I was going to die; it hurt so much, but . . . then I saw you."
She broke the hug just a bit, leaving their faces inches apart. "When I saw you, I knew that you were going to save me. Protect me from this unknown fear. I tried to reach you, but I couldn't . . . I couldn't . . ."she couldn't finish her sentence, ". . . but, I was surprised that you worried for me, Inu-yasha. Let alone would you call yourself my protector---"
"Of course I would worry about you, stupid." He said in a firm, yet gentle tone, "If you truly had died at that moment, it would have hurt twice as much as before. I wouldn't know how to be rid of the pain . . . but . . ." he pulled her into his embrace, and held her shakily. "I would be filled with so much regret, wishing that I told you . . . -that I . . ."he stayed silent. "If you died, Kagome . . ."
He pulled away and returned to their current position, looking at Kagome.
". . . You would take my whole world with you."
Kagome looked at him with watery eyes. She felt something warm and wet fall from her eyes, then something wipe it away. It was Inu-yasha's own hand whipping away a fallen tear. "Don't do that," he pleaded, "Please don't. You know that I hate that."
"How could I not?" she said, leaning her head into his hand, "you just told me that you actually cared about me. And here I thought you hated me. . ."
"Wha---? Kagome, where did this come from??"
"Well isn't it true?!" she yelled, more tears shedding as she yelled, "Your always yelling at me, insulting me, and you protect me because I'm you jewel detec-----" she couldn't finish. She didn't seem to have a choice as Inu-yasha was pressing his lips gently onto hers. He slowly pulled away, and looked into Kagome's shocked face.
"I'm sorry."
Her eyes widened more.
"I'm sorry for everything. Everything I've said and done to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you . . . I could never do such a thing to you." He looked down, his bangs shading his eyes. "And now I'm ashamed." After a moment of silence, Inu-yasha spoke again, this time a bit shyly. "Um . . . about the kiss, well . . . I guess I'm sorry for that, too . . . I mean-well . . . I ---"
His voice suddenly froze in his throat.
He was practically stone.
He felt something on his lips.
It was warm, soft, and . . .
How he knew, he wasn't sure, but he knew what they were . . .
He could never mistake them somehow . . .
. . . When Kagome's lips were touching his very own.
He didn't know what to say. She's returning the kiss! With boldness he never knew he had, he closed his eyes, and deepened the kiss. He noticed that she didn't even flinch at this new act of his. She didn't seem to care as she tried to deepen the kiss more. This was what they needed. To reassure themselves of their presence when they were afraid of never seeing each other again. Now . . .
As they slowly parted, they faced each other with half-lid eyes. Both were blushing, but they didn't care. All that both of them cared was what's clutching in their arms.
"I forgive you."
It took a moment for the words to sink into Inu-yasha's spinning head. "W-What?"
"I forgive you, Inu-yasha." She repeated, this time with a smile.
Inu-yasha said nothing but smiled and embraced her gently, being more than happy to be forgiven by an angel. He felt Kagome return the embrace with just as much gentleness. But before Inu-yasha could even reply a thank you to Kagome . . .
"PERVERT!!"
SLAP
. . . he HAD to be interrupted by his companions.
On instinct, he let go of Kagome and placed her beside him. Kagome didn't say anything. She knew what would happen if they were found in that position. Both of them would never hear the end of it from Miroku, until Inu-yasha did something about it.
"But Sango, I didn't do anything!"
"You touched me!"
"How could I have touched you in my sleep?!"
"You did!!"
"But I didn't mean it! Honest!"
"You still touched me, pervert!"
"But San---"
SLAP
Once again, Miroku was slapped and now had a slap mark on both sides of his face. Shippo and little Kirara, now awake due to the sudden noise, were watching in amusement. Inu-yasha, realizing that this may go on for a while, faked a cough to grab their attention. They all turned to him.
Before Miroku could explain, Shippo suddenly squealed in delight. "KAGOME!!"
He jumped into the air and almost knocked Kagome to the ground. "Your ok! I'm so happy!"
Kagome, recovered from her shock, hugged Shippo fiercely. "Oh, Shippo!"
Inu-yasha watched them in their embrace, a bit jealous of the kit. He turned to Miroku and Sango and asked, "So, you guys alright?"
Both of them blinked at him, as if realizing something. "Actually," Miroku replied, "I don't feel anything broken from that blast that strange girl shot at."
"Yeah," Sango replied, "I was slammed to a tree hard, but I somehow don't feel any pain . . . at all."
Inu-yasha just looked at them. Was it something that Sega planned? Was it . . .
"Inu-yasha?" it was Kagome. "Um, I think there's something I should tell you."
Everyone faced Kagome as she spoke. "Wh-When she stabbed me, I---"
"Y-You were stabbed, Kagome?! By that lady?!" Shippo yelled as he clutched his little hands on Kagome's shirt.
"Are you alright??" Sango asked in concern.
"Did she hurt you?! We should take you to Lady Kaede's and ---"
"NO! She did stab me but it – well what I mean was-GAH! I don't know where to start!!"
"Lets just fill in the details for everyone, Kagome, THEN we can move on." Inu-yasha replied with a surprisingly calm tone, yet held a bit of impatience as well.
--
"So," Miroku replied once the explanation was over, "This Sega girl . . . you think that she never intended to hurt us in the first place?"
"That's my guess, anyway," Inu-yasha replied.
"I mean, if she did, she could have killed us right then and there, she could have easily killed Kagome with her soul in her very hands." He looked down sullenly at just the thought.
"And," he continued as he turned to face Kagome beside him. "Kagome, is there something behind the stab that Sega gave you?"
"Yeah," she gulped, "I didn't feel a thing."
"What?!"
"No pain. Just a bit of a push, then I felt sleepy and blacked out, but none the less, what Sega did to me didn't hurt at all. I don't think she wanted to."
"Hmmm . . . this is very strange indeed," Miroku replied, "Who . . . or what is Sega?"
A long silence passes, until a voice spoke up. "I'm back!"
A shift in the trees caught their attention to the heavens, as they watched a figure jump out, and land in the center of their circle. They flinched, but didn't move from their sitting spots. They just looked at her in caution, waiting. But they were also looking at her in confusion. She looked . . . different from their last encounter.
She was wearing different clothing. It looked like the color was separated into two kinds. One side held a sun, with a color of fire, sleeves hanging from her elbows. The other was pure night. Both colors seemed like elements. She had baggy pants, but they weren't as baggy as before. She had also strange boots that ended a couple inches above her ankle, the left side a fiery color and the right the night color. But what surprised them more was her face. Her hair was a fiery color, as were her eyes. On the left side of her cheek was a tattoo of fire, as if it were licking her cheek. It was a whole new transformation. The others barely recognized her.
"Hello." She said. "I'm sorry I'm late, but I didn't want to intrude in your little reunion."
To be continued. . .
I have FINALLY finished! Ok, so the description of sega was horrible, but I'll find a way for u guys to see the picture. I have it drawn!
BTW, thank u all who reviewed for me and have been so patient with me! I hope u like this chappy. I ran out of ideas and I had to end it there cause I'll have to leave for a week for vacation. If I didn't stop, then I would have to delay this chappy for a looooooooong time! So be nice and review!
-Akida411searcher