Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, all characters and such belong to Rumiko Takahashi
Sorry about the little error with chapter 10 of 'complicating Fate'. I didn't mean to post that.. it was just an experiment. So, for those of you who have read it, It wasn't the REAL chapter 10, forget what you've read. Sorry for any trouble this has caused.
Now, enjoy chapter 2! please, post your comments. R & R!
Chapter two: Choices
His soft, amber eyes slowly opened. The sun was bright, he scratched his arm, he could feel the sharpness of his claws again, however he felt something else.
"Kagome?" He said aloud, seeing the girl lying there in his arms. A smile spread across his lips.
'It wasn't a dream.. She really is here with me.' he gazed down at her, so many emotions passing through his mind. Being there with Kagome just felt so natural, he never wanted to move.
"I don't wanna go to school...pancakes, please...5 times 5 equals 25.." Kagome continued to mumble in her sleep, Inuyasha laughed a quiet laugh.
'If I have it my way, Kagome, you'll never have to go to school again.' He thought, the smile never leaving his lips. He lightly nudged her, hoping she'd wake up.
"Huh? Inuyasha? What time is it?" She said, eyes still closed, yet aware of where she was.
"It's close to noon. I can tell by the position of the sun." He said a-matter-a-factly. Kagome giggled.
"You sure are handy to have around, Inuyasha." she complimented, which made him blush.
She stopped smiling and looked away. Noticing this, Inuyasha took hold of her chin with his thumb and index finger.
"Anything wrong?" He asked, getting no reply. He sighed, he hated not knowing something. Especially when it came to Kagome.
"What do you plan to do with the Jewel, Inuyasha? Now that we have all of the pieces..." she asked, letting her eyes flow towards his gaze. He looked straight into her eyes, which were sparkling.
"I don't know..a lot has happened since we started on our quest for the Jewel shards.. enough to change my mind on most of the decisions that I have made before meeting you, Sango, Shippo and Miroku" an agitated looked swept across his face.
"I'm just so confused. So many people had been making decisions for me, I thought I knew what I wanted.. but I just don't know anymore." He sighed, his confusion showed.
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha." She put a hand on his shoulder. "You know I wont make you choose. The jewel isn't mine to use anyway." She smiled, he knew she was hurting inside.
"I'm sorry.." he mused.
"For what?" she laughed, "you haven't done anything wrong?"
"Yes, I have!" he protested. "I'm being a Baka.. a selfish baka."
She looked away, uncertain as to what to say. "No..you're not a baka, let alone selfish. You just have a lot on your mind is all." She tried to sound cheerful, but she knew he was hurting too deep for her to heal.
"I understand. You're a Hanyou, I know that's hard." He looked towards her. "I understand. You think humans are weak, that's true, compared to your strength. And whenever you turn full demon, you become a.." she tried to find a suitable word for his demonic state.
"Monster?" he finished for her, looking into her eyes. She shook her head, smiling.
"No, not a monster. You just forget yourself when your like that. It's ok to be confused, take your time and if you need someone to talk to, I'll be here." With that she got up, gathering her sleeping bag and supplies and putting it all in her bag.
At her words, his heart sank, 'she completely understands.' His mouth gaped open. He had never met anyone who had actually understood, anyone else who had ever been remotely kind to him had tried to change him, some with good intentions, most with bad. But Kagome wanted him to decide for himself, she wanted him to understand why he was confused and that he didn't need to be told how to feel or what to do.
"Thank you, Kagome.. for understanding." He said, looking away to hide his blush.
"No problem." the smile widened. "And like I said, I'm here if you need someone to talk to."
This time he looked at her, they stared at each other for a few moments. They were interrupted.
"Sis!" yelled a familiar voice in the distance.
"SIS!" yelled another familiar voice.
"Ginta? Hakkaku? What are you guys doing here?" Kagome asked, pleasantly surprised. As much as Kouga bothered her, these two guys were genuine.
"Where here to bring you back home, sis." Ginta replied.
"Yeah, Kouga's orders!" Hakkaku added, both of them smiling. Inuyasha stepped in.
"Well you can go right back home and tell Kouga he aint getting her!" he growled, the two stepped back a bit and ran back in the direction of the wolf tribe's den, bringing Inuyasha's message.
"Thank you, Inuyasha. I like those two, I wouldn't have been able to tell them off like that." She smiled and gave him a small hug, and began walking in the opposite direction of the path Ginta and Hakkaku had taken.
"Where are you going?" He asked, tilting his head.
"Anywhere but in that direction." She pointed after Ginta and Hakkaku. "Once Kouga hears your message, he'll be after me like a dog to a bone." She began walking again but stopped and turned to him. "No offense."
Inuyasha laughed. "None taken." and joined her.
"Well?" Kouga asked the two breathless wolf demons. "Where is she?"
"We have a message for you instead." they said in unison. Ginta stepped forward.
"Inuyasha told us to tell you that you..aint..getting her." He added Inuyasha's slang.
"What? How dare that mutt tell me what I can or cannot have!" Kouga roared. "I'll just have to go and her myself."
Kouga bounded off into the sunlight. A girl emerged from one of the various caverns within the cave.
"Kouga!" the girl cried out. "Guys, where is he off to know?"
"He's gone off to get himself a woman, Ayame. By the way good morning!" Ginta bowed and smiled.
"What? To get himself a woman?" She spat out. "What the hell does he think I am?"
"No less off to see that Human. Kagopy or whatever." She said sarcastically.
"It's Kagome, Ayame. And she's a very nice girl. Once she comes to live with us, I'm sure you two will be the best of friends!" Hakkaku smiled and bowed as well.
"What did you just say? LIVE with us? A human?" Her eyes flashed red. "Oh no, he isn't bringing home some human trash to live with us!" She turned from the two. 'She is not stealing my Kouga either. He is mine and I intend to keep it that way. I wont loose my strong Kouga to some weak human brat.'
She returned to her cavern.
"If she so much as steps into our cave, she's dead meat!" As she said 'meat' all of the wolves in the cave looked towards her, licking their lips.
The sun was beginning to set again as Inuyasha helped Kagome set up camp.
"It sure is gonna be boring home. I've been here so long that School and all the things I was used to doing everyday just seem so dull." she laughed.
"Well, Why don't you just...stay here?" Inuyasha added.
"Stay here? But how? I mean, my mother and my family." She said while lighting a match and starting a fire.
"Well." He paused. "You've lived like that for the past two years.. Why can't you keep living like it?"
She didn't answer.
"You and I, Miroku, Sango and Shippo." She interrupted him.
"And don't forget Kilala!" She smiled, as did he.
"Hai, and Kilala. Well, As I was saying, We've all been through so much together. And If I use the jewel, or whomever, You wont..be able to come back."
She thought for a moment. It had never occurred to her before that she could never come back, without the jewel she was stuck here or home. And in all honesty, she'd rather be here.
He could smell the anxiety building up. "Hey, don't stress yourself out. It was only a thought."
She smiled, knowing he was thinking about her best interests. "I know, but it was a very good thought. I hadn't realized that I could never come back.. So I really do have to choose."
Inuyasha walked over and sat beside her.
"You know.. If you need someone to talk to, I'm right here." He said, looking ahead.
"Thanks, Inuyasha."
"Now, Let's get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us." He said, pulling out two blankets out of her large, yellow bag for them. He wrapped one around Kagome and then one around himself.
"What's happening tomorrow? Why is tomorrow going to be a big day?" She asked, smiling.
"Well, We both have very important choices to make and it's best that we make them tomorrow, and not 'later'." He replied.
"Why tomorrow though? Why not later?" she asked again.
"Well, by now a lot of demons would have heard of the jewels completion. So We have to use it, it's the only way we can keep safe." He explained. She nodded.
"I see." her smile left her lips. 'I want to stay, but will you let me, Inuyasha?' she thought, watching him out of the corner of her eye. 'If you choose to become full demon, then I can't stay.. You'll surly kill me..But still..I want to stay.' She sighed deeply, turning over and falling asleep.
Sometime during the night, as they both slept deeply, a hand came over her mouth.