A/N: Because of a slight change of plans, and I'm going away much earlier than expected, I'll update today. Once I leave, it'll be unlikely that I'll be able to update, since the towns where my relatives live don't have wireless. (Grrr…) So…it sucks, but I won't be able to update for at least a week. Sorry.
Oh, I hope everyone had a good Christmas(and/or respective holiday)! I got pocky:D!
Chapter 11: The Only One
Kagome kept marching off into the woods, tears in her eyes. I can't believe him! Why did he have to do this now? And in that way?
She stopped walking, and looked up at the sky, trembling in the memory. It was almost as if…for a second I thought…he might have actually felt the same way for me…
Brushing it off, she kept walking. But that's not possible. He loves Kikyou. I've known that for a long time…He only loves Kikyou, because he can't forget about her…he'd never start feeling that way about me, as long as Kikyou's alive.
As long as he can't forget about her…I'm nothing in his heart…
Inuyasha sat by the river, his arms folded, looking at the setting sun. What should I do? Kagome will just be mad at me if I go after her…
But, I can't let her keep on thinking that…he told himself. It doesn't matter…she has to know she means more to me than that…
He remembered Miroku's words. In this case, the monk would have told him to let Kagome calm down, and then talk to her. Perhaps that was the best solution to avoid getting sat. Maybe that would be a better idea…
He shook his head. No, I can't have her thinking that way, no matter what happens to me, no matter how many times she uses that word on me…as long as she knows I don't care…
The hanyou stood up from his previous spot, a look of determination of his face as he turned and faced the dark forest. Kagome, you baka… And he stormed off into it, to tell her the truth, once and for all.
Kagomewalked on, just marching away from him felt better than standing still and facing reality. She looked up at the sky. Night already? That whole thing with Sango-chan and Inuyasha must have killed an hour or two.
She stopped, and yawned, wiping her eyes, no more crying, but still moist. I'm going to have to find my way back, because I don't want Inuyasha to come looking for me…
Kagome closed her eyes. I really just want him to leave me alone…For now, at least.
She heard someone coming through the woods. Kagome turned sharply as she heard them running. No…what if it's Inuyasha? She looked around quickly for somewhere to hide, but she didn't have enough timeto hide. The shape emerged before she had a chance.
But she felt relieved. It was only Kouga. "Kouga-kun!" she asked, coming up to him. "What are you doing here?"
The wolf youkai smiled at seeing her. "I was on the trail of Naraku, but then I smelled that you were in the area."
Kagome smiled. "Yeah, we're just coming back from a youkai extermination. So, how's everything with you?"
"Fine." Kouga sniffed around. "Where's mutt-face? Isn't he always hanging around?"
She huffed. "I don't know. Probably stuffing his face with dinner. I really don't care right now."
Kouga seemed much happier when he heard Inuyasha wasn't there. The wolf youkai came closer, "Kagome, you know I worry about you when we're apart."
His boldness surprised her…and made her feel a bit annoyed. He usually was like this when she was around, and she would laugh at his attempts to flirt with her, but now, after everything she and Inuyasha had been through recently…she didn't even feel like laughing his proclamations off. She only wished for one person to say these things to her; Inuyasha…
Kouga took one of her hands in his. "It's hard, having to leave you, when all I want is to come back and see you once again."
At that moment, Kagome wanted to be anywhere but in that spot, Kouga spouting romantics to her. "K-Kouga-kun…" She started, to say, wondering how she could say it on order not to hurt his feelings too much.
Inuyasha crawled on the leafy forest floor, sniffing the ground for Kagome's scent. Yup, I'm on the right trail, all right…He imagined what would happen when he found her. I'll probably get sat a few times…He thought with a shudder. But it doesn't matter…as long as Kagome understands…
He continued following her scent, until a light breeze wafted through the forest. All of a sudden, Inuyasha caught a scent he would have rather not have sniffed. No…it can't be him…what's he doing here, the bastard! He jumped up and ran towards the scent, making sure to stay downwind.
Inuyasha heard voices, it was Kagome and Kouga. His first instinct was to go in there and demand that mangy wolf to return to where he came from, and keep away from Kagome. But he knew, it would only make things worse. Despite his instincts telling him to protect what was his (or so he hoped), the hanyou had to content himself with spying from behind a tree.
But he couldn't help but let a growl escape him when Kouga grabbed her hand. Who does that bastard think he is? I outta…He clenched his fists thinking of all the various and creative ways he could kill him, once Kagome was out of sight.
"Kouga-kun…" Kagome began, obviously wording what she was trying to say very carefully. "You see…its nice and all to see you, but I…"
A smile lit up the wolf youka's features. "Do not worry, Kagome. You don't need to say anything. I understand completely how you feel. I know it hurts that we must part so soon."
Inuyasha had to control himself, because his youkai blood was desperately raging for him to go and kill the stupid wolf, once and for all. But that would make Kagome hate him, and he couldn't have that…
Now Kagome was very annoyed. "Kouga-kun, no that's not what I meant at all. You're a good friend, but I can't keep lying to you anymore. Kouga, I—"
She didn't have time to finish her sentence when Kouga pulled her into a fierce hug, both to Kagome and Inuyasha's surprise. "Kagome, if you wish to be with me, that badly, I can make you my woman, from here on out."
Inuyasha just stared, his hands gripping Tessaiga tighter. Not just because he was planning at any second to go and slice Kouga up, but also because he needed to calm his youkai blood, which in his anger and hurt was starting to take over. Inuyasha knew, that at any second, Kagome would pull away and tell Kouga no, but every second flew by, and then one thought went through his head. She's not pulling away…why isn't she pulling away…His ears started drooping. S-she's really not pulling away…
Now he knew how Kagome felt after all those times of catching him with Kikyou. Almost unbearable heartbreak.
But Kagome had been too surprised by what had happened to do anything at first. Why is Kouga doing this? The only person I'd want to hold me this way is Inuyasha…he's the only one who could say this to me, and I'd agree. She closed her eyes as she was lost in the thought…if Inuyasha would ask her such a question someday. Inuyasha…
But Kouga murmuring, "Kagome…" brought her back to reality.
Her eyes snapped open. No…not Kouga…the only one I'd want is… "Inuyasha…" she whispered, but Kouga heard…and so did a certain heartbroken hanyou, whose ears suddenly perked up at the mention of his name.
"What?" Kouga asked, pulling away. "Why are you talking about dog-turd at a time like this?"
Kagome knew what to say to him now. No more trying to dull it down. It was time he knew. "Kouga-kun…I'm sorry. But I can't return how you feel."
Kouga just stared. This couldn't be true. The woman he loved, the woman he wanted to live with, was just telling him she didn't love him…how was that possible? "Kagome…you're not serious?"
Her eyes flew to a spot away from the wolf, she didn't even want to look at him now, she didn't want to see the heartache on his face. "I'm serious Kouga-kun…I can't feel that way about you."
Inuyasha watched, feeling a small sense of triumph as the wolf youkai prince tried to comprehend what was happening. Kagome obviously felt sorry for him, but for Inuyasha, those feelings were anything but mutual. Kouga's face suddenly turned from sadness, to anger. "Why?" he demanded.
"Why what?" Kagome asked, not liking the look in his eyes.
"Why can't you feel that way about me?" he asked, his hand gripping into a shaky fist. "Because of mutt-face? Is that it? You can't love me because of that dog!"
Kagome gasped. How did he know? Was it really as obvious as Sango-chan said?
Inuyasha couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want to hear Kagome's answer to that question. And Kouga was yelling at her. Only he could yell at her, in his opinion. He jumped out from behind the tree, right in front of Kagome.
He heard her gasp in shock just as Kouga growled. "So, spying on us, were you, mutt?"
"Keh!" Inuyasha yelled. "Who the hell do you think you are, yelling at Kagome like that! She said she didn't love you, so shut up!"
"I'd suppose you'd know all about that, wouldn't you, dog-turd! Stealing my Kagome…" Kouga had to fight the urge to pound Inuyasha's face in right in front of Kagome.
Inuyasha roared, "She's not yours! She's never going to be, so just get out of here!"
Kouga looked back at Kagome, who had a look of mixed embarrassment that Inuyasha had been watching on their conversation, and feeling sorry for him. She whispered one more time, "I'm sorry…" and reality finally sunk in for him. She really didn't love him. She loved Inuyasha.
He lost all anger he had for her, now he just felt his heart break in two as he knew he could never be where he wanted to in her heart. She didn't love him, and probably never had, and he had been too naive to see it. He had lost the only woman he had ever really loved.
Kagome couldn't stand seeing him in so much pain. "Kouga-kun."
Taking one last look at her, Kouga turned away. "Good bye, Kagome, I don't know if I'll ever see you again." And with that, he ran off into the forest.
"Keh, took him long enough." Inuyasha muttered turning around and facing Kagome, who looked thoroughly embarrassed.
"Inuyasa, were you watching the whole time?" she asked, slightly afraid of his answer.
"Of course I was!" he glared. "How could I leave you alone with him, seeing what he did! That bastard," he muttered. "If I see him again, I'll kill him!"
Kagome tired to calm him down. "Inuyasha, don't blame him. He's just—"
He didn't let her finish. "And you! You should have told him before you didn't want to be with him, not lead him on by letting him think you liked it!"
She was slowly loosing it. Her heart had just been thoroughly broken by Inuyasha, and then she had to break the heart of a good friend. And now Inuyasha was yelling at her because of all of it! It was too much. "Inuyasha…"
"How could you let him jump you like that!" he roared. "And then you just stood there, like an idiot, letting him think he was getting what he didn't deserve—"
That made her snap. "Inuyasha!" she roared. "What's with you! I just told Kouga that I didn't love him, and I chose you, and you're yelling at me! The only person I'd want to fond over me like that is you!"
That made Inuyasha gasp. Did she just say…
All of a sudden, a fierce blush covered her face as Kagome realized what she said. Oh no…I can't have…I just said… But the look on the hanyou's face confirmed it. She had (practically) confessed her love for him. Why did I say that? Now he knows!
Tears came to her eyes as she remembered, But he loves Kikyou…not me… Crying, she turned away to walk deeper into the woods, but Inuyasha followed.
"Kagome…" he asked, grabbing her shoulder, making her turn around.
"Please, let go of me, Inuyasha!" she begged, tears falling down her face. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha…"
"Sorry for what?" he asked.
She looked up at him with misty eyes. "I'm sorry for loving you…for getting in the way of you and Kikyou…I'm sorry Inuyasha…" she cried on.
Inuyasha gripped her by both of her shoulders. "Kagome, you've done this before. And I'll tell you my answer. Kikyou…Kagome, I don't care about her anymore…I mean…" he felt himself blush. Damnit, I'm no good at this! "Not…in the way that…I care about you…"
Kagome gave a small gasp and turned back to him, hardly daring to believe it. "Inuyasha…?"
But there was no mistake in his amber eyes. Those golden depths reflected only one emotion; love. He didn't care anymore; he didn't care about the danger that they might be putting themselves in, according to Kikyou. He didn't care that Naraku could use this emotion against him. All that mattered was that he was here, with Kagome, his Kagome, in his arms.
Before he knew it, they had gotten closer, close enough to feel the warmth from each other's bodies…nearly shivering at the closeness, the excitement. "Don't say you're sorry, Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered. "Because, then..."
Kagome gasped, she could hardly believe it. Asmall, uncontrollable smile of happiness on her face, the tears of pain now turned to tears of joy. It's really happening…Inuyasha really does… Her heart raced as he touched her cheek, guiding her face up to his.
"I'd have to say sorry too."
And with that, he kissed her, letting her know he loved her through one simple kiss. She kissed him back, melting in his arms, wishing she'd never have to let go. It was a dream come true, something that was only possible in dreams. Yet it had happened. It was real. Inuyasha loved her as much as she loved him.
When he pulled away, blushing slightly, not used to this kind of thing, he couldn't help but have a grin from happiness on his face. Kagome, on the other hand, was laughing from unfathomable joy. "Inuyasha!" she laughed, throwing her arms around him as he held her tight, both of them wishing to stay this way forever.
Kikyou, who was hidden from view, had been watching the whole time. "Fools." She glared, turning away and disappearing into nothingness.
A/N: I know, I know. I just HAD to ruin the fluff by reminding you that this fic is going to get pretty dark soon. I can't have the characters get together and have everything happily ever after, can I?
Also, I like Kouga. And I hated making him like this. It just seemed a bit OOC...even if it is canon. Weird...
Anyway, some fluff for you to cheer your holiday. Like I said, I don't know when I'll be able to update next, but I do hope that it will be soon. Happy (respective holiday, for those that like to be politically correct)!