Chapter 39
"Inuyasha! Would you stop already!" Kagome walked away from her hut with an annoyed tone- rolling her eyes as the insistent hanyou followed behind. "NO! I want to know what happened last night Kagome...just tell me what you were doing out in the rain & why you came back so shaken up! KAGOME!" He reached out and grabbed her arm, attempting to slow her down- but she shurgged him off as she huffed and continued walking. "But I already told you! I went out for a walk- it started to rain so I came back...let it go Inuyasha! I'm fine- nothing happened..." She mumbled a few complaints about him under her breathe before making her way toward the waiting children who were gathered around her horse. She smiled gently at the small ones who were happy to see her. "Arigato, I'm so happy you took care of him for me..." The children giggled before saying their goodbyes and scattering to play as Kagome mounted up. Inuyasha jumped on behind her without a second thought as Kagome looked at him with an annoyed smile. "Are we going to discuss this the entire way?" Inuyasha growled low in his chest. "If you would tell me what really happened then we wouldn't have to..." Kagome gave a quick laugh. "Oh get over it...you're such a baby..." The horse rode out of the village with the two- heading toward the cliffs where Koga and Ayame lived with the wolf demon tribe.
The trip was fairly quiet- and they arrived to find Koga and Ayame awaiting them with their son. Kagome smiled brightly. "He's getting so big Ayame...and he is so cute..." She laughed- smiling at the little one contently. Inuyasha and Koga were having their usual conversation of half insult & half real talk. After only a few minutes- Kagome announced that she had a prior appointment she needed to attend to. She requested that Inuyasha stay here, since it would only take her about an hour. She had somehow managed to avoid mentioning where she was going. Soon, they were watching her ride off in the distance toward a nearby village.
Once out of sight, Kagome looked back- then turned her horse to the true location of her meeting- a desolate part of the mountains. After galloping for about 10 mintues, she stopped the horse and left it near the river. She sat on a large rock a few yards away, until finally she could hear a familiar voice calling her name. "KAGOME-CHAN!" She smiled as Rin came running through the field and climbed up the rock to throw her arms around Kagome. They both laughed slightly, exchanging a few words before Sesshomaru walked up solemnly.
Rin talked about a few more things that had happened- and all the things she had heard about lately, then rushed over and began petting the horse she adored- playing happily with it in the river. "Well, we meet again Sesshomaru..." Kagome gave a tolerant smile as she watched the little girl splash about in the river, the demon lord's unflinching expression staring her down. "Miko...I suppose you and my half-wit brother are getting along well again..." Kagome bit her tongue against the sting that he intended in his words. "You brought him back just to annoy me Sesshomaru...but I do have to thank you for it..." "I did not intend it to be a gift- I would rather my brother be laying back in his grave at this very moment...but I would rather not have to deal with an intolerant and unrational miko who gives no thought to killing everyone around her..." Kagome sighed- figuring that she probly deserved that- since she had been very blind when Inuyasha left.
Rin came running up, the horse's reins in hand with the large black stallion following obediently behind her. "KAGOME-CHAN! You have taken very good care of Yurusu! He is very happy- just like I am taking very good care of Lord Sesshomaru, Jaken, as well as Au and Un of course..." She giggled as the horse affectionately nuzzled her small body, petting its neck carefully. Kagome smiled slightly with a small laugh. "Hai, of course I take good care of him Rin...and I'm sure you take very good care of Lord Sesshomaru...now how about you take Yurusu to that field to play for awhile?" Rin shook her head happily, leading the patient horse away once again.
"You still have that beast I see..." Sesshomaru said with a little distance in his voice- almost questioning as he stared off at the field Rin was running to. Kagome sighed, looking up at Sesshomaru and then out in the direction he stared. "Hai....well it was a very lovely gift I recieved from you and Rin...why wouldn't I take good care of it?" Sesshomaru's eyes diverted toward her momentarily as she glanced back at him with a small smile. "And besides- I'm quite fond of him..."
After about an hour of talking with Sesshomaru and laughing with Rin, Kagome grabbed the horse and said her goodbyes to the two. "I still don't understand your hate for each other...I don't know if its because your arrogant or Inuyasha's stubborn...but oh well- nothing wrong with sibling rivalry, right?" She gave him a curious look as she began to walk off.
It wasn't long before she made it back to Inuyasha. "You're late..." He humphed with his hands in his sleeves, but the small boy mounted on his shoulder and attempting to play with his ears took away any kind of authority he was trying to pretend he had. Kagome smiled, trying to stiffle the giggles she had for the young Kota that had Inuyasha's silver ear in hand- and was now trying to pull it closer in his reach to examine. Kagome grabbed the boy as Inuyasha's ear began to twitch out of the boy's grasp. She laughed, playing with the child a moment as Inuyasha looked her over with a funny expression. "What?" She asked as she handed the boy back to Ayame. Inuyasha caught himself- realizing he had been staring at Kagome unusually. "Oh...er...nothing..."
They both said their goodbyes to Kouga and his pack, Kagome mounting up on Yurusu- taking off instantly with Inuyasha running effortlessly along side her. She looked over, her hair whipping around her face, as raven black as the mane on the stallion beneath her- she felt the rythmic gallop of the horse's body flowing beneath her as her deep brown hues glaced at the red and silver blur that kept her pace in the forest shadows. She returned her gaze to the path ahead that blindingly flew by her, finally beginning to bring the animal to a slower trot, then a soft walk. Inuyasha adjusted his speed as well, walking in silence for quite sometime.
Moments passed by as Kagome's eyes averted to the sky above, divoid of clouds- or any remnents of the storm from the night before- except for the fresh scent in the air and the damp humidity that surrounded them. She sighed, Inuyasha's golden orbs looking up at her. She felt his eyes burning into her as she reverted her gaze back to his. "What?" She spoke softly, with a curious smile. At first, he didn't respond. "Inuyasha...thats the second time today I've caught you looking at me strangely...what's wrong?" His arms crossed on his chest, his hands in his sleeves- he simply huffed with an annoyed tone. "Its nothing...just that- nothing...forget it..." She raised a brow slightly. "Alright...what's going on- You're acting wierd- C'mon! Tell me...what is it?" He rolled his eyes with a snuff, apparently annoyed that he had even mentioned it. "Its...your scent..." She was a bit confused as she thought for a moment. "My scent? What about it?" "Forget it! Its just different somehow, OKAY?" She continued to questioned him intently, with little reluctance. "er..Different how?" He shrugged. "I dunno...just different...its still your scent...just- stronger I guess..." He answered unsurely as Kagome stopped the horse- her eyes continuing to follow him as he walked a few more steps, then stopped and turned to her. She got off the horse and began leading it down the path with a smile. "So is that a good or bad thing?"
His ember orbs glanced over a moment. "What about?" "My scent stupid..." He rolled his eyes again- with a softer annoyance. "Are you still on that?" She smiled. "You brought it up...so...tell me..." "How should I know?!" He defensively shot back. She shrugged as they came back to the village, pushing back a few bushes to reveal the break in the trees- the quiet village below.
Somewhere in the back of Kagome's mind- something popped, reaching back to her dreams and flashing the memory of the huts that were nothing more than ashy frames engulfed in fire, overlaying this on the current scene before her. It was as though this had happened before- but it was a mere moment, hardly long enough to make any connection in her mind at all. They continued into the village streets, walking by hut after hut- children playing and people smiling- bowing respectively to Kagome for a moment as she did to them. Inuyasha walked slowly, his hands in his haori sleeves, every so often glancing at Kagome- then back to the path ahead. Kagome's mind was drifting off- she was mostly thinking about Inuyasha and what a nice day this had been, reflecting on her encounters and her friends, but at certain points her thoughts were being halted.
'What is this...why am I so preoccupied...what is it that won't leave me alone....' She stopped walking as her eyes became slightly distant- a vision of her dream blinding her mind as though it was truly what was before her. She could clearly see the flashback overlay onto the current scene now. The people around her were gone- Inuyasha- everyone was gone...all except for him, the man who stood before her- his hands and feet soaked in the blood of her destroyed village. The fire around her burned clearly in her eyes- glowing like dying embers as the flames ate away at everything, licking at her body as though it wished to consume her as well. But just as it came- it was gone. Inuyasha heard the horse give a huff of uneasy abruptness- looking back to see Kagome had stopped. He raised a brow slightly. "Kagome?" Her eyes came back to the pure brown hues he knew and loved, but with a touch of uncertainty. "er...Yeah..." She began walking again- her eyes shadowed by her bangs as evening approach. "Is something wrong?" He questioned- though he knew he wouldn't get a straight answer, Kagome never liked to worry people- and always pretended things were fine. Her lips curled slightly to a fronted smile- though her eyes remained hidden from him. "Nothing...I'm fine...just tired I guess...I'll meet you back at Sango and Miroku's in about an hour...alright?" She didn't wait for an answer before hastily jogging off with the horse toward the small make-shift stable where the village horses were kept.
He watched her hurry away- escaping from his inquiry. 'That's the kind of fine I worry about..." He sighed- knowing that he wouldn't find out what was going on until he wrestled it away from her, or had her backed into a corner- but he was sure it had something to do with her fear from the other night.
Kagome slowed her pace again, walking in silence for a few moments before stopping in front of the small wooden building and pulling open the large doors. Her nose was greeted with the musty smell of hay and horses, the sound of restless animals carrying outside. She walked into the dim shadows and led her horse to his stall, locking him in for the night. His head nudged her body carefully from over the doorway- she looked back at him from her distant thought and stroked his nose with a smile. "What are we going to do with ourselves?" She sighed, leaving him in the stables and walking back to the heart of the village quietly.
Kagome's long ebony locks flowed over her shoulder like the burden she carried. Her fingers swiftly ran through the strands-pushing them back from her face as she continued to stare at the ground. Her strides were broken when she looked up with an abrupt stop, hearing something disturbing from the path up ahead. Her brown hues were met with nothing, but she could sense it- far in the distance a battle was occuring at this moment, ensuing between demons & humans- and a hanyou. Kagome burst into sprints- running toward the edge of the village, only slowing her pace to borrow arrows and a bow from Kaede's hut on the way. Moments later, she found herself looking out from behind her friends- everyone in fighting stance before an unusual demon that was standing by the edge of the forest. Inuyasha's cocky tone was apparent in his smirk as he drew his Tetsusiaga. "Heh. Well...such a weak demon is hardly even worth the trouble..." He laughed slightly- mocking the strange beast that seemed to be some sort of large weasel.
Inuyasha charged confidently, starting a battle that barely lasted all of 10 minutes. Kagome watched with a small smile while Inuyasha toyed with the demon, putting away his sword only to finish it off with his claws. He grinned widely at his victory, walking proudly back to the group who commented on the demon's weak abilities and Inuyasha's over eagerness. Kagome didn't really say much- she simply enjoyed seeing Inuyasha happy, relieved that this demon was no threat. Soon, everyone returned to Kaede's hut, talking about the day's events and mishaps. Apparrently, a demon or two had wandered near the village today- but nothing Sango and Miroku didn't handle with ease.
Kagome ended up excusing herself around the time the sun was going down- she was tired, and told everyone she was headed for the hot springs for a short bath. Kagome grabbed a towel from her hut, then fled off as the sun began to sink lower in the sky. Back in the hut, Sango and Miroku excused themselves as well, putting their son to sleep and making their way to their room as Inuyasha simply watched the dying fire. His thoughts were consumed by Kagome as Shippo yawned and said his goodnights- following Kirara into the Kasaku's room to sleep. A few moments later, Inuyasha got to his feet & left the hut silently.
Kagome had already undressed, and was dipping her body slowly into the hot springs that were deep in the forest, beside a large mountain. The waters engulfed her as she sank in up to her chest, lapping at her shoulders as she rubbed warm liquid over them. "You never told me why my scent was so different..." Her voice was barely a whisper as she stared into the reflection beneath her, her words rippling off into the silence, spoken almost to herself-until she found she wasn't alone. "Maybe because you already knew..." Inuyasha's voice carried from his spot in a tree- his body leaning against the large trunk as he sat on the branch opposite the side of the springs. Kagome sighed, knowing he was near even though she couldn't see him. "Are you afraid Kagome?" She leaned back against a warm rock, her back facing his tree-sounds of dripping water rippling from her hands as she rolled water over her arms. "Of what?"
"Of me...of what I could do to you if I lost control...your scent is so intoxicating- sometimes its just so hard to fight the urge to-" He clenched his fists as he stopped himself- his nose taking in her sweet smell with each breath. "So stop fighting..." He was taken back by her words that carried on her scent- his ears twitched slightly as he relaxed. "..What?" "Stop fighting it Inuyasha- because its not me who's afraid of what your going to do...I love you Inuyasha..." Her words trailed off like a whisper of wind-her brown hues staring aimlessly into the water's reflection, awaiting Inuyasha's reply in silence. She gasped when the calm waters revealed the figure above her. It was her hanyou, she turned her head- looking straight up into his golden orbs- like molten gold burning into her.
She smiled slightly as he threw his haori around her, picking her dripping body up from the water and placing her in front of him. She pressed her wet body against his as a shiver rolled over her spine, her raven hair gracing her shoulders in wet laces that curled slightly at the ends. She blushed for a moment, before her lips were covered by his in a gentle kiss that deepened with each passing second. When they broke away with panting breathes, Inuyasha placed a chaste kiss on Kagome's damp neck, whispering in her ear. "I swear Kagome...I will always love you...because I always have..." He trailed back to her lips as she fought to smile between kisses, her mind racing with thoughts, all of which were fading to nothing at his every touch.
Before she knew it, passion was giving way to everything she ever knew- now, there was only him. He was the reason she was living, he was her only reason to go on, and she was his. His red haori slid from her shoulders as she led him to the springs, shedding his remaining garments- blinded by kisses that would never quench their thirst for more. His lips trailed down to her neck once more as he whispered to her- his hot breath tickling her ear. "Kagome... do you want to be mine forever?" She smiled, kissing him tenderly on his shoulder as she managed to whisper. "hai...much longer..." With that, his lips graced her neck, placing a chaste kiss there before his fangs began to tear into her soft skin, her hands clenching at his chest, pushing against his body slightly before relaxing away as the pressure was released from her neck.
She panted slightly as he brought one hand up from the water, washing away the crimson drops from her neck with the warm liquid. Before he could apologize, or say anything- she kissed him deeply, tasting the bittersweet metallic crimson from his fangs and lips. Her body pressed against his, fitting perfectly in his arms as though she was not complete without him. "Your mine now..." Inuyasha whispered as her back layed against a rock. She smiled- her brilliant hues gazing at him in the darkness. "I always was..." Her hair spread against the rock as Inuyasha leaned over her, Kagome's fingers gently pulling at his rosary-inching him into a gentle kiss- with only the stars as witnesses to their unity this night.
»--------------------------«
HAHA! Well, not really lemony, and does leave alot to the imagination- but I'm gonna leave it to you guys to determine how this scene looks. I was going to wait until the next chappy, but I figured I had put it off for too long...but don't think this is the end...OH NO- you don't get off that easy....I gots lots more stuff in store- just think of this as a beginning! LOL...BTW- about the Sango and Miroku one-shot, the year between Inuyasha's death & ressurection- I'm gonna start working on that soon...so I'll announce it when I get it posted...welps, hope you liked this chappy- R&R!
Arigato- Thanks; Thank you
ano- er, ummm
Haimu- home
Gomen ne- sorry
Futon- bed