Chapter 18: Possessive?
Inu-yasha looked at Kagome, conversing with Sango and Miroku about some stupid crap they found in the village earlier. She was smiling brighter for some reason. She looked even more beautiful. Almost…blooming. Her heart seemed lighter than yesterday… as if…as if she wasn't scared anymore.
He turned away; sadness so rare could be seen in his eyes. But no one was there to see his pain or heartache. No doubt Sesshoumaru caused it. She'd never smiled like that before. There was a peace in her smile he'd never seen before…as if she was…content. He couldn't stand it. To think that Sesshoumaru made her feel at peace…a heartless, merciless, emotionless man like him.
And yet he couldn't be angry. It was good that Kagome wasn't crying anymore. He didn't want to see her hurt. He didn't want to see her cry. Even though he didn't want Sesshoumaru for Kagome, he had to admit that only Sesshoumaru would dare to hurt her that way. A way that makes Kagome…a better person than she already was.
Kagome was like a marble statue. Everyone was content with the way she was. But then Sesshoumaru came with his harsh truths and he carved off bits of her. But instead of breaking as everyone expected, she complied with his vision and became even more beautiful; lovelier…more whole…
Could he have done something like that for Kagome? Could he, Inu-yasha, actually make her smile as if everything in the world was finally right? No…he couldn't. He could try…but it wouldn't work.
"Inu-yasha." He turned to look up at her with that content, peaceful smile on her face. A bowl of ramen came up to his face, tantalizing his sense of smell. "Here's your ramen."
Uncharacteristically, Inu-yasha took the ramen in both hands and started eating slowly without a single word spoken. "Huh?" Miroku said. Sango noticed him quickly and looked where the monk was looking.
"What is it, houshi-sama?"
"It's Inu-yasha."
"What about him?"
"He didn't say anything."
"Huh?"
"He's been quiet this whole time without saying a word to anyone!"
"You're right, houshi-sama! It is strange that Inu-yasha hasn't made any noise this morning?"
Inu-yasha's ears twitched in annoyance. Honestly, can't people be a little more sensitive to other people's feelings? (A/N: WHAT THE HECK+shakes head ruefully+ everybody's a hypocrite these days)
"Yes, usually he would be screaming nonsense by now about random things." Miroku added casually. Before he knew it, Inu-yasha had already flung a rock at him. It hit Miroku right on top of his pretty little head and quickly knocked him out.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango quickly knelt to the passed out monk and saw the swirlies forming in his eyes.
"Shut up, you damn perverted monk!" Inu-yasha yelled animatedly. Kagome watched him as he murmured a profane word and did the weirdest thing he's done as of yet. He looked at her then quickly averted his gaze.
Kagome furrowed her eyebrows, "Inu-yasha, are you okay?"
He blushed furiously, scratched his head with irritation and said, "Would everyone just leave me alone!" he took his ramen and jumped up onto a tree branch too high for them to reach. He shouldn't be there with her. She was already taken. She was already chosen. And like it or not, it was an inu's code of honor that once an inu has chosen his mate, no one else may take her. Inu-yasha feared that if he stayed with her any longer, he would be tempted to break his code of honor.
Kagome looked up at the tree where she hoped she would be able to see Inu-yasha. Sadly, it was futile. Her face turned to that of concern. Why did he look at her like that? Did she do something that made him angry? What's wrong?
Kouga smiled to himself as her sweet scent permeated his olfactory senses. He was currently carrying her bridal style, seeing as she was too weak to walk all the way up the mountain by herself. Ever since Naraku's genocide on three-fourths of his clan, he sent what was left of his family to the mountains to hide. He couldn't risk letting them be vulnerable to any other attack.
He took his sweet, sweet time, walking up the mountain as casually as he could. Sure he could get up there in not even half the time an average person could with the help of his shikon shards. But, it as more fun this way. She wasn't talking much as he expected, but she wasn't asleep either. He should ask her something to break the silence.
"So, do you always walk around unprotected or are your guardians simply too weak to protect you, inu-hime?"
"Silence yourself, wolf." She didn't even open her eyes to look at him. To simply be carried by a hermit wolf was already degrading enough. But to engage in a conversation with him was like treachery to her bloodline! And to think that he would dare insult her beloved guardians, her only friends!
"Can't you just set aside the wolf-inu thing, it's really getting old."
"Silence yourself."
"You know, you really know how to bring a guy down. I mean, here I am with a beautiful girl in my arms, and—"
"Silence yourself or I will do it for you!" that was when she opened her eyes but merely to glare menacingly at him to prove her point. Could he not be quiet for one second? She was too busy thinking! About what? About how much she's changed the course of time. About how she should have simply stayed at her time, abiding by her dear Father's wishes and marrying whoever it was she was supposed to marry.
"Alright, alright. Geez, for a pretty girl, you're pretty irritable." She glared at him one last time before closing her eyes again and leaning her head on his shoulder as she did earlier.
A frown marred Haruko's face as she continued her train of thoughts. Yes, she was selfish. She wanted to see her mother one last time before meeting this…stranger she was about to marry. She wanted to see her mother before erasing her very thoughts of marrying for love. Her Father married for love. But she wouldn't be. She would be marring for peace, for responsibility and for… for her kingdom. If only I hadn't been so selfish…none of this would have happened. Everything would have gone just as Father planned.
"Hey everyone, Kouga's back!" she opened her eyes and looked forward to see a small village and a few villagers coming to greet them.
"Hey, Kouga!" a few rough looking men ran to them and so did a few Amazon looking women. "You're back!"
"How was the trip?"
"Did you get anything good?"
Kouga grinned warmly to his family, "Gomen, guys! I had something really cool but then I lost it." Haruko stared up at him with curiosity. So he wasn't a hermit? But she was right; he did live in a mountain. A lot of people seem to like him.
"Hey!" someone said, grabbing everyone's attention. "Who's she?" as if choreographed, the crowd looked at the weak looking girl in Kouga's arms.
"Oh, her!" Kouga grinned sinisterly as if he had a plan. "She's my new woman!"
Haruko's eyes widened like saucers as she stared blankly at him and she was left speechless. The audacity. The audacity! THE AUDACITY!
Everyone looked doubtful.
A few people laughed, "HAHAHAHA! Look at our Kouga! He just goes right through them! Kouga, we can't believe how lucky you are with the ladies!"
Kouga laughed with them up until a sultry looking woman came and looked at them all together. "Kouga, what's wrong with her? She doesn't look too good."
"Well, she's a little sick. I'm thinking it has something to do with all the food she ate earlier." Her eyes widened even more. How dare he! That was already two lies he's woven around her! Stop making them think I'm either your woman or a glutton! She thought menacingly. Her fist tightened on his ponytail and that was when Kouga got her message.
Kouga grimaced when he felt the pain at his scalp so he laughed loudly and said, "Well, I guess I'll just get her to a vacant hut now. She needs her rest."
"Kouga, you baka! You don't need to find a vacant hut; you can just share your hut. After all, she is your woman right?" the sultry woman asked again. Kouga laughed sheepishly, though the thought was very tempting, he was a bit scared by the hanyou in his arms. After all, hell hath no wrath like a woman's scorn. "And besides, we don't have any vacant huts." Well, that's that.
"What's her name again?" another guy asked Kouga.
"Uh-uhm…" Kouga looked at her for help. He didn't know her name. He just called her inu-hime. Haruko looked at him condescendingly and turned to the crowd with a diplomatic air.
"I am Haruko." She was about to say princess of the western lands but decided against it. She shouldn't be so open with these wolves. They aren't to be trusted. But then again, so was everyone else in this world. The only one she would trust her heart to was her father. She scoffed at herself mentally, as if she had a heart.
"Inu-yasha?" Kagome called, seeing as no one was around. She always found that Inu-yasha was only truthful to his feelings when they were alone. So she chose the time when everyone would be gone so she could talk to Inu-yasha without arguments, without barriers, without fights.
Inu-yasha turned to her from the large boulder he was sitting on. When he laid eyes on her, his expression became that of loneliness. "Kagome." He acknowledged. This only served to worry Kagome even more. She furrowed her eyebrows and stood close to the boulder he was on.
"What's wrong, Inu-yasha?"
"What do you mean 'what's wrong'? Nothing's wrong." Inu-yasha said, looking away.
"You're sulking. That means something's wrong. Now tell me, Inu."
When Inu-yasha gave her no answer, she sighed. "SIT!" bam! Inu-yasha swiftly retaliated, shaking a fist in front of him with animated anger.
"WHATCHA' DO THAT FOR, WENCH!"
"SIT!" bam! "Don't call me a wench!" Kagome said, putting her fists to her hips. Inu-yasha stopped struggling, putting out the flame of Kagome's anger. She remembered what she was there for in the first place so she sat in front of him and watched him get up from the dirt.
Inu-yasha stared down at her, looking into those kind blue eyes. Kagome smiled warmly at him and said, "Inu-yasha, you know you can tell me anything." Inu-yasha blushed furiously at the thought of telling her –gulp- everything. What about those—dreams he's been having? No, no, no! Of course that wasn't something he should tell her! What about his feelings about this whole Sesshoumaru thing. Should he tell her that he knows? Just when he was about to open his mouth, they heard a rustling from the trees behind Kagome.
She turned around and stood up when they both saw Sesshoumaru coming closer with large, heavy steps. His face was still impassive but his eyes told them he was aaanggry! Angry about what? They weren't doing anything wrong.
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome said just as Sesshoumaru stopped in front of them. As swiftly as Sesshoumaru halted in front of Kagome, he grabbed her hand, pulled her closer, wound his arm around her waist and crushed her lips to his in a ferociously passionate kiss! Kagome's eyes widened with the intensity and Inu-yasha's heart actually stopped for a moment. His jaw fell to the floor in shock especially when he noticed that Kagome actually opened her mouth!
Kagome was supposed to be angry at him for embarrassing her right in front of Inu-yasha. She was supposed to be pushing him away by now. But he was too good a kisser to deny! He was mind-blowingly amazing! She couldn't help but comply with his desire since he inspires the same desire in her. When Sesshoumaru finally pulled away, both of them came out panting and breathless.
Kagome's eyes were still closed when Sesshoumaru glared at Inu-yasha threateningly. It was a silent message to his brother. She is mine. Kagome slowly opened her eyes just as Sesshoumaru spoke. "Remember that, Inu-yasha."
Inu-yasha was far too shocked to reply or even think. The image in his mind kept replaying again and again. Yes, Inu-yasha would surely never forget that moment. Never.
"Come." Sesshoumaru abruptly said, pulling her along by the arm.
"Ah—w-wait!" Kagome stumbled a bit, trying to keep up with his fast pace. Inu-yasha watched them with his mouth wide open as they disappeared into the forest. Well, now it's official. Sesshoumaru has officially chosen Kagome. Damn.
Kouga entered the hut only to duck and do his best to evade the many random things flying at him. "Hey! Hey, I liked that one! Hey, stop throwing stuff at me! I worked hard for that!"
"You stole it from villagers! How is that Working Hard? How dare you falsify me! How dare you call me your woman! How dare you!" Haruko furiously screamed. The shame! The shame!
"Hey, calm down, Inu-hime!" he ducked another random object. "I only did that so they won't hurt you."
That was when Haruko stopped in mid throw, looking at him questioningly. Seeing that she was finally willing to listen, he sighed of relief and entered the hut fully. "How do you think they felt, seeing an enemy in the arms of their leader? Of course that would cause a lot of trouble. They won't accept you simply coz you're weakened."
She pouted angrily when he mentioned her being weak. She hated that word. "But because I told them you were my woman, they won't even dare touch you. Once you're strong enough to go home, I can just say I got bored with you and let you go." She was even more insulted. This wolf really didn't know how to be sensitive to other people, did he?
She supposed she should accept his explanation since it sounded reasonable enough. She calmed down and threw the random item to the floor. She adjusted herself to sit like a lady and said, "So what do you plan to do now?"
Kouga grinned that arrogant grin again that made her think he was perverted. "Well, since I only have one bed, I was planning that we could—"
"Don't even think about it." She interjected, glaring at him threateningly.
Kouga smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulder. Well, it was worth a try. "Alright then, since you're sick and I'm such a gentleman, you can sleep on my bed. I'll sleep on the floor."
Haruko gave him a scrupulous look and Kouga waved it off. "Oi, oi, don't be so wary. I'm a thief not a rapist." Though he reassured her, she knew she shouldn't easily let her guard down.
Shippou quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Sango looked at him with worry, seeing the tired face of the diligent kitsune. "Shippou-chan, are you really serious about this?"
Shippou stood straight with determination and said, "Hai, Sango-chan! I want you to teach me everything you know. I want to be stronger."
Sango looked doubtful, "But this training will hurt a lot, Shippou-chan. Do you think you're up to it?"
Shippou nodded with a hardened look of discipline on his face. "I can do it." For Haruko. For Kagome. For himself.
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