Never
Part 3
By Faery Pink Sparkle
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, but I do own this story.
Author's Note: First off, I just want to say sorry for not updating sooner. But here it is; Never: Part 3. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story, including: Toxic Panda, leara the brat demon, Yessika, StaySee, Vicky, Evergreen Friendship, rgurwguwrgu, ImmortalSoull, Kakiomae, Inubaby2, WiNd and keeper-of-mauve-paradise. I really appreciate all the encouragement and support. Without you all, I don't think that I would be able to continue writing this story. So, thanks again! Anyway, let's get on with the story…
Japanese terms: haori - the red jacket that InuYasha wears over his white inner robe
Kagome turned at the sound of her name being called by an all-too familiar voice. InuYasha burst into the clearing. She knew he was the one who had called out her name, but she didn't expect that he would be here so soon. She had wanted some time to ease the pain somewhat and seeing him right before her eyes only served to deepen the wound in her heart. Though she would be wrong not to admit that she was relieved to see him unharmed.
"InuYasha, what are you doing here?" Miroku inquired, unable to contain the surprise that they all felt. Is Kikyo gone already? he wanted to ask, but knew it would be safer not to.
Ignoring the monk, the half-demon rushed to Kagome. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" he asked, genuinely concerned. Taking off his red haori, InuYasha wrapped it around her shoulders in an attempt to keep her warm. "You look freezing," he stated to explain the reason for his actions. The others kept silent, only watching the two.
Kagome felt her skin tingle where InuYasha's fingers had gently grazed her. She blushed profusely, though she managed to lift her eyes and gaze into InuYasha's amber orbs. Her love for InuYasha seemed to overcome the pain she felt caused by him as she stared into the depths of his eyes. Did he really come back for me? Is he here because of me? Did he leave Kikyo to come back to me?
"What are you looking at me like that for!" InuYasha exclaimed as he took a step back, causing the girl to snap out of her daze.
Ignoring his question, she asked on herself, "Where's Kikyo?"
InuYasha was taken aback, while the others were also surprised at Kagome's directness.
"Back where I left her," InuYasha replied simply as he looked her over, "We should really get you back to Kaede's before you catch a cold. If you get stick, we won't be able to look for Jewel shards."
Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! These were the thoughts running through Sango, Miroku and Shippo's minds.
Jewel shards? Kagome's eyes widened in shock. This hurt the young girl deeply, If it isn't Kikyo, it's Jewel shards. How could I think that he came back for me? I'm such a fool. Kagome quickly composed herself, unwilling to let her tears flow freely. "Don't you have unfinished business with her? Kagome continued, her voice tinged with bitterness. But InuYasha didn't seem to notice… or at least he didn't let on.
Why the hell is she getting moody on me for! What the hell did I do! "Kikyo can wait," he replied finally with a wary look etched on his face.
Kagome knew where her interrogating would lead. She knew what would happen, yet she couldn't seem to stop herself- it was like word vomit. "It seemed you two had your hands full," Kagome said quite coldly.
"What?" InuYasha responded, utterly bewildered. What the hell is she blabbing on about? InuYasha asked himself. At first, he couldn't make sense of what Kagome had just said, but realization struck him like a blow. She saw me with Kikyo… again.
Kikyo left, leaving an awkward atmosphere between Kagome and InuYasha.
InuYasha turned to see Kagome walking away. "Huh? Hey, wait!" he called out to the departing girl. She didn't acknowledge him and this confused the half-demon. InuYasha just followed Kikyo's reincarnation.
"Stay away!" Kagome snapped as she stopped to glance back at InuYasha.
"What are you mad at me for?" InuYasha asked incredulously.
Kagome looked away. "We really need to talk, InuYasha. How about you look for the Sacred Jewel shards on your own?" Kagome said softly as she lowered her head, "What do ya say? 'Cause I don't think I'll be able to help you anymore."
"Where's all this stuff coming from? You're the only one who can locate the jewels. I need you to help me."
"Is that all I'm good for?" Kagome's voice began to quiver, "Finding jewels? That really is the only reason you need me…"
InuYasha didn't know what to say. How was he supposed to respond to that? He just looked at the girl in front of him.
"What am I rambling on about?" she continued, "Forget it! Just forget I said any of that." Kagome's eyes turned sad. She was glad that she had her back turned to him. "I guess it's just the thought of being on my own in the world- it's kind of a lonely prospect."
"You're not alone," InuYasha countered in a gentle voice, "I'm right here with you." He took a step towards Kagome, "Unless you don't want to be with me anymore."
"InuYasha," Kagome said his name in wonder, but this only lasted for a moment, "I get it. You weren't able to see me there at all, could you?"
"Huh?" InuYasha became confused once more.
"I saw the whole thing between you and Kikyo," Kagome explained flatly.
InuYasha's eyes widened in shock. He walked towards Kagome with one hand outstretched, "You mean…"
"That's right. From start to finish. So I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me alone for a bit," Kagome started to walk away.
"Hey! Don't do this to me!" InuYasha called after her, "What do you mean by the whole thing? Wait, Kagome! What was I doing when you saw me?" A look of wonder, confusion and fear appeared on InuYasha's face. He ran after the young girl. "Wait!" he yelled out as he ran towards her, "Tell me, Kagome!"
Kagome stopped in her tracks, her fists clenched at her sides. "Sit!" she ordered without even turning around.
"Aah!" InuYasha cried as his face met the ground with a hard crash.
Kagome quickly turned to glare at the fallen half-demon. "I mean the whole thing!" she exploded angrily, "All of it! I had a front row seat!" Kagome turned away as she exhaled sharply. "I'm going home," she whispered in wounded tones and stalked off.
"Perhaps we should leave the two alone," Sango suggested with a pointed look at Miroku who nodded and willingly led the way. "Come on, Shippo, Kirara," the demon slayer called out, ushering the other two away. Sango looked back at her friends in worry before following.
Both InuYasha and Kagome were glad to have their own privacy. But Kagome felt slightly vulnerable without the others there with her.
InuYasha just stood there, unsure of what to do and unsure of what would happen next. The last time Kagome had seen him with Kikyo, she had been so upset that she went home. They had made up after, but InuYasha had a feeling that it was different this time- he wasn't getting off the hook that easy… again.
Well this is just great, Kagome thought sadly, Why won't the earth open up and swallow me? She watched InuYasha, feeling the tension between them rising. Even an attack from Naraku would be as blessing, Kagome admitted, desperately wishing that she was anywhere but where she was at that moment.
"Kagome…" the half-demon trailed off. His heart ached to see the pain in her eyes.
"What do you suppose they're talking about?" Shippo wondered aloud as he perched himself upon Sango's shoulder.
"Matters that only concern a man and a woman," Miroku answered knowingly, "Nothing a little cub like yourself should worry about." Miroku couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Shippo's deep scowl.
"Well, InuYasha better not be making Kagome feel worse," Shippo continued, "I don't want Kagome to go home upset. I don't want her to go home at all!"
"Neither do we," Miroku added, "Kagome is our dear friend."
"Whatever they may be talking about, I'm sure that they'll work it out together. They always do," Sango said reassuringly to the group and also to herself. Sango was very worried for both Kagome and InuYasha. Their group had become her family and it would grieve her to see it fall apart- it would grieve all of them. Sango glanced to the place hidden by the trees where she knew they would be talking.
"Kagome…" InuYasha trailed off hesitantly. What was he supposed to say?
Kagome bit her lip anxiously, instantly regretting how she acted like a child upon seeing the situation she had put InuYasha in.
"Kagome…" he repeated. "What… whatever you saw… or heard…" he trailed off once more, unable to look Kagome in the eye.
Kagome shook her head, "It's… it's ok, InuYasha. You don't have to explain anything to me. I know you still love her. You always have, right?" Kikyo's reincarnation gave him a weak smile- it broke his heart.
Kagome was wrong. He wanted to explain, but the words escaped him. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but his pride wouldn't let him. Damn it! InuYasha cursed inwardly.
So he won't even try to deny it, Kagome thought forlornly, misunderstanding InuYasha's body language and lack of words. "I'm sorry about all of this," she apologized quietly.
She's… apologizing? To me?
"I think I'm just going to go home for a few days. You know… just so I can clear my head and spend some time alone. Plus, I haven't seen my family in a while. And then there's school. I have so much work to catch up on, I don't know how I'm going to pass my exams. I wonder what illnesses Grandpa's managed to come up with this time…" Kagome babbled on and laughed wearily. InuYasha watched Kagome and noticing his gaze, Kagome continued in a more serious tone, "I'll just ask Sango if I can borrow Kirara. I'm sure she won't mind. Oh, don't worry. I'll come back to help find the Jewel shards. So I'll just see you when I get back ok?" Kagome stood up and unwrapped InuYasha's red haori from her shoulders. She placed it in his arms, disappointed to be returning it. She straightened herself up and turned her back on him. Kagome knew that it would take more than a few days to mend her shattered heart.
InuYasha couldn't let Kagome leave thinking that he was still in love with Kikyo. Because it wasn't like that… was it? He was so confused! InuYasha growled under his breath. He looked at Kagome's turned back. This was his only chance to set things straight, so he grabs her wrist before she could take another step. Unable to move forward, she turned to face InuYasha.
"InuYasha?" she said his name, confusion clear on her face.
"I want you to stay with me," he blurted out. His eyes widened a fraction at his words, but he recovered quickly, realizing that this could be his last chance. He didn't want to mess it up. "I want you to stay," he continued. InuYasha seemed to be going through his own word vomit phase, "I want you."
A blush crept up to Kagome's cheeks. Does he mean it? Does he even know he's saying? Before she could think about it further, InuYasha had pulled her towards him, his haori falling to their feet as he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle embrace.
"It's been a while," Shippo commented. "Maybe we should go check up on them?" the little fox-child suggested.
"I don't know…" Sango replied uncertainly.
"Why don't we just take a peek?" Miroku was already one step ahead, making his way to the trees. Shippo closely followed the monk.
Sango sighed heavily. "We may as well follow," the demon slayer told her familiar who purred in agreement. "What do you see?" Sango whispered from behind Miroku.
Miroku turned. "Would you like to trade places? I believe that I would enjoy the view from behind you," the monk grinned at Sango who glared at him dangerously. Sango would have slapped him then and there, but she was afraid that she would draw attention to them.
"They're hugging!" Shippo exclaimed in a whisper.
"What? Where?" Miroku quickly made room for Sango and they both looked through the trees with growing interest.
"They finally made up," Sango smiled. They were all relieved, that was for sure.
Kagome was overwhelmed by it all. She wanted to struggle against him, to push him away and ask what he was up to… but being held in an embrace by InuYasha was something that she had secretly desired for a long time. She wanted it to be like this forever.
InuYasha breathed in her scent and felt her delicate body relax against his. She's the one… he realized as he held her. When he was with her, his heart was at ease; everything felt right. He had almost let Kagome slip through his fingers, but this time, he would never let her go.
Kagome melted into his arms and let her troubles fade away. There was only one thing on her mind and that was being with InuYasha. In the end, love would overcome any obstacle that she had to face and love would heal her heart. Kagome would never give up on InuYasha. Never.
Author's Note: This concludes Never. I did say that it would only go as far as three parts. Plus, I don't think that I'd be able to continue this story anyway- I just wouldn't know what to write about! Thanks for all the reviews and thanks to those who will review this chapter- I really appreciate them all! And hopefully, I'll hear from you in my other stories!