A Father's Embrace

Chapter Twelve

Deception

Kagome and Maiki returned to Sango's and Miroku's hut shortly after their little talk. All members of the family had gathered inside. Introductions were made. But before the long-lost friends could reminisce or catch up on each other's lives, Sango asked the important question that had been on both hers and Miroku's minds since the night before.

"If you don't mind me asking, Kagome-chan, but what exactly happened all those years ago? When you had vanished without a trace, we assumed the jewel was purified and you were forced to return home. But it is obvious that that is not what happened…" the exterminator gently urged her friend to explain the events of so long ago.

A solemn expression crossed Kagome's face. Her gaze averted. She could feel everyone's attention on her, waiting for her to answer the question. Guilt and shame began to well up inside her. She hated herself for running away so many years ago. She should have been stronger. She should have faced her fears. But she didn't. She had run away like a spineless coward. She paid no attention to the patient stares of the room's occupants as her thoughts went back to that night…

Kagome climbed out of the well. She had just returned from a trip home. The visit had lasted two nights. She hadn't intended on staying so long, but it had been nearly two months since she had last seen her family. It had taken her forever to leave too, considering everyone kept trying to load her down with things. Mama with food and first aid supplies. Grandpa with his useless spirit wards and charms. Sota with his many questions and trinkets for his idol, Inuyasha.

The miko panted as she hefted the overstuffed bag over the edge of the well, letting it fall unceremoniously into the tall grass. She flopped over the lip afterwards, sitting on the cool ground, leaning against the wooden structure while she caught her breath. She looked up into the darkening sky. The sun had already set, a few stars were beginning to appear, the moon already hung in the air overhead. The moon, almost full now. Had it really been three weeks since Naraku died?

Deciding she had wasted enough time, Kagome rose to her feet. She tugged the heavy bag onto her shoulders and headed towards the village. Walking through the forest, she wiped sweat from her brow. Though the sun was down, the summer air was still very hot and muggy. She didn't fail to notice the missing hanyo. Just where was Inuyasha anyway? He almost always knew within a few minutes when Kagome emerged from the well. Where was he now?

As if to answer the nagging question on her mind, a red and silver blur suddenly dropped down from the trees directly in front of her. Startled, the priestess leapt from her skin. Just as quickly, she regained her composure.

"What in the world did you do that for, huh? You nearly scared the life out of me!"

Inuyasha didn't respond. He simply stared down at her with a blank expression.

"Inuyasha? Are you okay?"

After a moment of silence, he spoke. "I'm fine, wench. Let's go."

He grabbed the bag from her, slinging it over one shoulder as if it were as light as a pillow and he turned his back to her as he started walking towards the village below. Kagome quickly followed behind him. Soon after, they arrived at Kaede's hut. The old miko was currently treating a young woman of a mild burn she had suffered earlier in the day.

To Kagome's surprise, Miroku was ignoring the pretty, young lass. He still seemed to be in a dazed state. The younger priestess also discovered that Sango still had not returned from her village. She began to worry that the slayer may never return. Shippo was currently dozing next to Miroku. Without Kagome there, he had needed to find comfort from someone, and the best he apparently could find was the detached monk. Kagome's heart wrenched at the thought of the lonely kitsune.

Later that evening, after everyone, except Inuyasha, had settled for the night, Kagome found herself unable to sleep. Her thoughts kept wandering to the hanyo. He seemed out of sorts ever since she had returned. He barely said more than a few sentences all throughout the evening. He seemed even more distant than usual. What was wrong with him?

Carefully extracting herself from the sleeping fox-child at her side, Kagome rose from her futon. She tip-toed to the door, putting on her loafers and headed outside. It was a quiet night, the bright moon shone in the sky overhead. Looking back at Kaede's hut, the miko confirmed that the hanyo had not taken perch on the roof like he did quite often. There was only one other place that she thought he could be.

Goshinboku.

She cautiously left the village, passed the rice fields and headed into the forest of Inuyasha. Suddenly, something grabbed her from behind. She was almost startled, but the red sleeves of the fire-rat robe assured her of the identity of her captor. She smiled in relief, but the scolding tone of her voice hid her amusement.

"You really ought to stop doing that, you know!"

"And you really ought to stop sneaking away by yourself."

"And why is that?"

"Because I can't protect you if I don't know where you are."

"But you were able to find me without any problems just now."

"And what if I can't find you?"

"I'm not worried about that."

"You should be worried, wench."

"Oh, really? What is it that I should be worried about?"

"You should be worried that big, mean yokai might sneak up on you and kidnap you," he whispered huskily into her ear as he pulled her closer to him.

She shuddered. Butterflies seemed to take flight in her stomach. Her knees turned to jelly as they nearly gave out under her weight. She was excited by his closeness, afraid of his boldness.

"What's gotten into you, Inuyasha? You're not acting like yourself."

She turned to face him, looking deeply into his eyes, getting lost in the deep pools of gold. He didn't answer her. Instead, he slowly, teasingly leaned in closer to her. Centimeters from his face, she could feel his breath on her lips. She couldn't take the suspense. She closed her eyes, waiting impatiently, but frozen in place. This is what she wanted, what she had wanted for so long. But why did she feel afraid?

Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. Her adrenaline rushed and flowed through her like the waves of high tide. She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as anticipation tore at her core. Finally, she felt his warm, soft lips brush over hers. The act caused all the sensations of her body to magnify tenfold. She felt as if she would melt in his arms.

He deepened the kiss and Kagome felt her legs give way. But he held her and supported her, just as he had done nearly everyday for the past four years of her life. Slowly, she felt him lower her to the ground, carefully resting her on the thick, soft grass of the forest floor. He broke off the kiss and she found herself panting for breath. She opened her eyes, gazing into the amber pools once again.

His eyes were with deep with emotion. In them, she could see the adoration, admiration, awe, devotion, and… love… for her. Her heart beat even faster than before. Her breathing was deep, ragged. He brushed strands of hair from her face. His claws gently tracing her jawbone until his fingers brushed over her swollen lips. He returned his gaze to her eyes.

"Kagome…"

"Yeah?"

"You are so… beautiful… I really missed you these past few days."

"I- I missed you too, Inuyasha."

"I don't like having to be away from you. Kagome, I... I need you... I need to be with you."

"I... need you too."

"D-do you mean it? I mean... I'm not just some dirty hanyo to you?"

His eyes filled with concern and uncertainty. It pained her to see the fear of rejection in his eyes. How many times in his life had he had to suffer the pain of rejection? Even Kikyo couldn't accept him for who and what he is. Never, ever would he have to suffer that from her.

"Of course you're not, Inuyasha! Don't ever think of yourself like that! You are perfect just the way you are. And I promise, no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."

The hanyo crushed her lips in a quick, relieved kiss, and continued with slower, softer kisses along her jawbone until he stopped at her ear to whisper. "And I promise I'll always be there to for you. With my life, I swear I will always protect you."

Kagome slowly stirred from her sleep. When she opened her eyes, she found that she was lying on the forest floor. By the position of the moon peaking through the canopy, she could tell that she had been sleeping for a few hours. She instantly realized Inuyasha was not there. But thinking of him caused a deep blush to rise to her cheeks as she recalled the events of only a few hours ago. Shrugging the thought aside, she noticed that he had left his fire-rat robe draped over her to protect her from the chill of the night air.

She sat up, retrieved her previously discarded clothing and dressed herself. If she hurried back to the hut, perhaps no one would notice she had left. As she fumbled with the kerchief of her high school uniform, she came upon a horrible realization. The large jewel piece that she had been wearing on a cord around her neck was missing! She panicked, clutching her hand over the place where it should have rested against her breastbone. She turned, looking in every direction. With her immense anxiety, she couldn't think clearly, she couldn't focus her senses.

"Where is the rest of it, miko?" a deep, cold voice called out, startling her.

Kagome spun around, facing the owner of the voice. Her eyes fell on a shadowed figure. She gasped. This man, his aura felt like Naraku's! And in his hand, he held the Shikon piece that had been stolen from her. How could she be so stupid? How could she allow someone to steal the jewel from her? The miko grew angry, defiant.

"Give that back this instant! Or--"

"Or what? Shoot me with the arrows that you left in the old woman's hut?"

"Inuyasha will save me."

"Are you so sure about that?" he mocked as he strode into the moonlight.

"Stay back!" warned Kagome, stepping backwards.

When he emerged from the shadows, Kagome gasped again. Menacing, burgundy eyes shone in the moonlight. Eyes Kagome recognized as Naraku's. But the face, the hair, the ears… They were Inuyasha's! Bile rose in the young woman's throat. What did this mean? Who was it exactly that she had just… had just… given herself to?

"What's going on? Stay away from me! What have you done with Inuyasha? Where is he? Why aren't you dead?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face.

He chuckled. "Worry not, little miko. I have not allowed any harm to come to your precious hanyo. At least, not yet…"

Kagome slowly closed her eyes, pushing the memory back before it became too painful. She reopened them, breathing a deep sigh. "I'm really sorry I left you all like I did. I wish I could answer your question Sango, but there is still a lot that I don't quite understand myself, even after all these years. I know shouldn't have stayed away for so long. I just… I didn't feel safe here anymore. I'm sorry. I've caused so much pain to so many people, especially Maiki."

At the mention of her name, the teenage girl lifted her eyes to meet with her mother's. The hurt and confusion she saw in Kagome's eyes reflected the way she felt as well. "I… understand that you did what you felt you had to do, mama. I'm just very confused right now. Everything around me just seems so different all of a sudden. I'm trying to get used to it… but I know it will take time. I can't say that I'm mad at you, but I also can't say that it doesn't hurt either."

"I know, Maiki. And I'm sorry. I've let you down, and betrayed you more than anybody. I'm so very sorry."

A/N: Okay, so um... I'd first like to say, that I don't think I'm very good with romance scenes. I tried really hard with the one in this chapter, and I think it came out well. And for the record, there is no "full" version of that scene. I don't do lemons. Sorry if that disappoints any of you.

As for Inuyasha's fate. I won't give away what happened. That's a big piece of the plot later on. And, like Kagome admits, even she doesn't know exactly everything that had happened to Inuyasha. But I will assure you all that he is alive. As for why Sango and Miroku have the Tetsusaiga; that will be revealed next chapter.

"Yokai" vs "Youkai": It is my opinion that both are correct. There are no specific rules for romanizing eastern languages. I've seen both spellings used (usually "yokai" has a "-" over the "o", but I've dropped that off for obvious reasons of convenience). This applies to other words such as hanyo/hanyou, Kikyo/Kikyou, and Sesshomaru/Sesshoumaru. It is simply a matter of preference. Neither is right or wrong.