Dark as Day
Chapter Twelve
"Today," Inuyasha said with a delightful grin. "Is absolutely, positively, without a doubt the greatest day in human history."
Kagome titled her head up, staring at her history partner; her black eyebrows arched upwards, a silent question playing in her beautiful blue eyes. Inuyasha's grin seemed to widen as he flopped down into the chair next to Kagome and propped his feet onto the table. It seemed impossible that there was ever a time he wasn't happy.
Kamen and Kagome were the same girl. This was truly a cause for celebration.
Inuyasha's behavior was most unorthodox. After all, the new moon had been the night before which usually left the dog demon in a rather sour mood. But alas, the joy of knowing that the objects of his affection were one in the same was truly more important than some stupid disappearing moon.
"Any particular reason why today is the greatest day in human history?" Kagome questioned, her eyebrows still arched. But it seemed that Inuyasha's grin was infectious because her own lips were pulled apart in a giant smile.
Inuyasha hummed happily and rocked his chair back and forth, his lavender eyes gazing at Kagome. The girl met his gaze unwavering, before blushing and looking away—undoubtedly she remembered the day they'd held hands like stupid little school kids. But how could he blame her when she was Kamen and Kagome? Oh no, he couldn't. Things were looking up.
And she didn't know that Inuyasha and Sha were one in the same. What a silly, uninformed girl. Inuyasha chuckled at his own fortune. He knew that he'd tell Kagome eventually, but for the time being he was rather content delving in his own inner gloating and relishing the fact that he knew Kagome's secret without her actually knowing that he did.
If only he weren't so darn shy, he'd totally ask Kagome out right then. But, he was a gentleman—or just a wimpy little boy—and he wouldn't impose himself on Kagome. Instead, he contented himself with staring at her as she tapped her pencil against her notebook and gazed longingly out the window, her blue eyes reflecting the rays of golden sunlight filtering through the windows.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Inuyasha questioned, looking at her. She glanced at him and her cheeks turned pink. She nodded.
"So, what's got you in such a good mood anyways?" Kagome asked, her blue eyes sparkling in the golden sunlight. Inuyasha felt his heart leap—and what a feeling it was. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced before… and he loved it.
"Nothing in particular," Inuyasha lied, his lips split in a smile as he glanced between Kagome and the door, where the professor would appear sooner or later. "Just today seems like a good day."
Class seemed to whip by in a blur but Inuyasha didn't seem to mind—it seemed that the mutations in his brain were coming in handy because he found himself able to grasp what the professor was saying. Even Kagome seemed to notice the difference in his ability to take notes while the professor lectured and sent a large smile his way when the professor paused in his long drawl of never-ending boredom.
As they left the stuffy classroom and exited the building, allowing the warmth of the sunlight to bathe them in a warm blanket, Inuyasha walked closer to Kagome than he normally would have dared. If Kagome noticed, she didn't comment. They walked slowly, not wishing to end their walk in light of their walking separate ways.
When they approached the telltale crosswalk where Inuyasha would turn one way and Kagome the other, however, Inuyasha continued following her. Kagome eyed him curiously, her black hair rolling off her shoulders as she moved.
"Why are you following me home?" Kagome questioned softly. She didn't seem annoyed with the fact and that further fueled Inuyasha's courage. He quickened his pace, moving closer to her. Kagome didn't push him away, though he saw the way her eyes flickered.
"Am I not allowed to?" Inuyasha questioned silkily, his eyebrows arching. He watched with delight as Kagome's cheeks turned bright red. He followed her and they continued walking, Kagome's head tilted upwards as the sun kissed her cheeks.
"You can come along then," Kagome finally spoke, though it wasn't necessary. Inuyasha had no intention of leaving Kagome alone now that he knew that there was no Kamen factor to conflict with. Kagome could take care of herself… Naraku wouldn't stand a chance, right?
They walked the rest of the way to Kagome's house in silence, Inuyasha guiding Kagome when she almost ran into a bench because her head was still tilted upwards. Half way towards her house she grasped his hand much like she had the other day and Inuyasha didn't let go—instead he clenched her hand tightly, happy for the contact.
"Well," Kagome said as they reached her door. "Do you want to come in? Souta and Rin would be happy to see you again, I'm sure."
Inuyasha smiled but shook his head. "I wish I could, but I've got to get going."
Miroku had told him that he'd need to return to headquarters for more testing and the results of his other tests. He couldn't care less, especially when something more tempting like spending the afternoon with Kagome presented itself, but it was something he had to do.
"Well… I'll see you later, Inuyasha…" Kagome sighed and opened her door and moving slowly, as if wishing she did not have to go. Inuyasha bit his lip and swallowed.
"Kagome, wait," he commanded and to his astonishment the girl obeyed, stopping her hand from where it was about to open her door wider. "I… uh…"
"Yes?" He didn't miss the flicker of curiosity and hopefulness that laced her words.
Inuyasha swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was wondering if maybe…" He was working up his nerve. He would not fail. "That is, if you don't mind I'd like to…"
She turned to face him completely, her lips pursed and her eyebrows arched. Her oceanic gaze glowed in the sunlight. She opened her mouth, as if she were to say something but quickly thought better of it and closed her mouth. She nodded her head silently, telling him to continue with whatever it was he was about to say.
"Er… would you like to go out with me? On a date?" he blurted out before he could stop himself. Silence greeted such a declaration and he silently congratulated himself on a job well done then scolded himself for being such an incredible loser about the whole ordeal.
But Kagome didn't seem to think he was a loser in the least. In fact, she looked utterly delighted with his proposal and quickly nodded her head, her black hair bobbing again. He watched the way the silky tresses danced on her shoulders and framed her beautiful face. Geez, he was turning into a poet. He silently cursed Kagome while silently thanking her for her ability to look over his awkwardness.
"Great… I'll, uh, talk to you later then?" he questioned and she nodded her head. Her ability to speak had seemed to have momentarily escaped her. He couldn't say he didn't mind, as long as she was saying yes to his questions.
"Scientists at the WHO institutes urged delegates to inform the general public to get vaccinations for smallpox last Thursday at a local meeting in downtown Tokyo. The WHO representatives were met with resistance, however, due to the fact that they offered no solid evidence for the necessity of such a vaccination. The vaccine used against smallpox, vaccinia, a close cousin to the deadly poxvirus, is often met with much resistance due to the fact that the vaccination itself can cause deadly repercussions."
Inuyasha gazed idly at the television he was currently watching with Sango, Miroku, and Kamen. He tapped his fingers absently on his arm as he listened, not really paying attention but knowing that he should. Knowing Sango he'd probably receive a pop quiz from the damned news report.
"There are many restrictions on the use of vaccinia due to the many deaths that often occur with its use, for it too is a poxvirus though not as virulent in humans as its deadly cousin: smallpox."
A moment later the report moved onto the decreased exportation of cattle and Sango clicked the television off. Inuyasha's eyebrows cocked upwards as he gazed sharply at Sango.
"And what," he drawled, "does this have to do with us."
"WHO is correct in its proposal for full vaccination. Their intelligence has no proof, but our intelligence has learned that a vial of smallpox has been stolen from the Russian biological warfare containment headquarters," Sango murmured. "We have a feeling it was terrorists."
"So Naraku can get a hold of it?" Inuyasha questioned, disbelieving what he was hearing.
Sango shrugged. "It's a possibility, yes… but not what our main concern is."
"Actually," Miroku cut in, speaking for the first time. He adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and tapped his clipboard against his thigh. He continued sitting and gazed at the three other occupants of the room.
"Smallpox can move at frightening speeds," he continued. "Years ago, when it was thought to be sleeping in freezers and unknown to the natural world, one man contracted it after a trip to Iran. No one knew he had it and in no time he'd infected nearly two thirds of the hospital he was being treated at simply by coughing—he managed to kill people he'd never even seen in his life. Those contaminated then spread it to others… It's a never-ending cycle. And with the way that airlines move and resources travel, it can take less than a month for a world wide epidemic of smallpox to succumb the world into utter chaos."
Silence met his remark save for the clearing of Miroku's throat. "It's as Sango suggests. We'd be better vaccinating ourselves in preparation for the worst. The last thing we need is a wipeout of the human race."
"But aren't demons immune to smallpox?" Inuyasha snapped out. Sango fixed him with a deadly glare and he backed down, frowning.
"You're a hanyou, Sha," Sango said fiercely. "We have no idea whether you'd be immune or not. It's best that we do what we can to protect you against a possible outbreak."
"Whatever…" Inuyasha muttered and eyed the needles that Miroku held. He still wasn't used to the evil little buggers and inched slightly closer to Kamen. Kamen shifted as well.
"Remove your uniforms, if you'd please," Miroku said as he beamed at Kamen. Kamen's lips thinned and Inuyasha was once again reminded that he was sitting next to Kagome. It was terrific. Kamen did as she was instructed, however, and removed her uniform.
Her skin was pale and she was completely bare-chested save for the bra she wore. Inuyasha tried his hardest not to stare but found that his male desires couldn't stand a chance against the soft, pale skin of Kagome's upper body and Kagome's unknown feminine wiles.
"Sit," she snapped and Inuyasha slammed to the ground with a large cry of protest. Well, he'd been caught, but he would engrave the image of a half-naked Kagome into his mind forever. If only Miroku and Sango weren't around, then he could—
He shook his head from the position he was on the floor. He was turning into a pervert.
He listened with a grim, foreboding feeling as Kamen whimpered and cursed quietly. Perhaps she hated needles too?
Once the spell wore off and he sat back up, Kagome was completely dressed again. She looked extremely discomforted. She was grasping her bicep, where Miroku had undoubtedly pierced her with the needle. Miroku waved his hand and Inuyasha stripped, revealing his muscular, yet lanky, upper body.
"This may sting," Miroku warned and nearly stabbed him with the needle. Inuyasha hissed in pain and wondered idly if Miroku had done that on purpose. Soon the needle was removed only to be pierced again.
"Ow!" he yelped. "Bloody hell, what are you doing?"
"It's important that I continue to pierce you with the needle until you start bleeding completely and your body scars over."
"But I'm a damned hanyou, my body doesn't scar," Inuyasha snapped out angrily and shuttled away from Miroku, trying to avoid the needle that threatened his throbbing arm. "Damn it!" he cursed when the needle struck him again. "Fucking…!"
"Calm down," Sango snapped out and shook her head. "Honestly, if you'd just be patient it will be done a lot quicker."
"Why the hell do I need to bleed and scar?" Inuyasha snapped.
"It's to make sure that the poxvirus has entered your system," Miroku soothed as he jabbed him again. Inuyasha bit his tongue and hissed angrily, his golden eyes burning angrily. He swore revenge on the doctor, silently plotting the man's demise.
"There," Miroku said after a couple more minutes of painful needle jabs. "All finished."
"It's about damn time," Inuyasha snarled, feeling on edge from the attack he'd suffered at the hands of the cheery and slightly disturbing doctor.
'Well,' he thought with a tiny smile, 'At least I have something to look forward to.'
The breeze ruffled the papers. The window was open and sending in a refreshingly cool nightly breeze. Inuyasha rested his head against the palm of his hand and watched Souta work across the table from him.
"Is this the answer?" Souta demanded as he pushed his homework towards Inuyasha. The said man tilted his head, causing stray locks of black hair to spill over his shoulder, and grasped the leaf of paper. Pulling it towards him, his eyes swept over the sheet of paper, silently checking the boy's work.
He lifted his head and stared at the sixteen year old teenager. Brown eyes watched him hopefully, longing to hear the affirmative of the question he'd asked the elder male. Inuyasha sighed and smiled.
"Looks about right, yeah," he agreed and chuckled as Souta beamed. He yanked his homework back and started scribbling down into his notebook, copying down the answer so that he could study it later, as Kagome had suggested. Souta was a studious and intelligent boy, but, like most of the Higurashi family, suffered in the math area.
"All done," Souta pronounced a couple minutes later and slapped his notebook shut proudly. He puffed out his chest as if he'd just cured world hunger and nodded his thanks towards his older sister's friend—and his new idol—before standing and retreating to the kitchen to get something to eat. After completing his mathematical studies what better way to celebrate than some junk food?
Rin dozed on the floor near him. She'd tuckered herself out after nearly wetting herself from the excitement of knowing that Inuyasha had returned to their humble abode. She'd run around, resembling a headless chicken, beaming and screaming that Inuyasha had indeed returned. She'd been the one to answer the door when Inuyasha had stopped by. Kagome had invited him, telling him that Souta needed help for his upcoming final.
Souta returned a short while later, carrying a large bag of potato chips. He lifted his foot and hopped nimbly over the limp form of his younger sister. He flopped down across the table from Inuyasha and held the bag out to him. Inuyasha shook his head and turned his attention back to the kitchen where he could smell Kagome's wonderful summery scent.
As if silently beckoned, the girl appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She eyed the comatose state of her younger sister, Souta's robotic movement of pulling a potato chip from his bag and into his mouth, and Inuyasha's dulled slump as he slouched over the table, inspecting his reflection staring back up towards him.
She sighed and shook her head. "Someone move Rin. It's not good for her to be sleeping on the ground like that. Souta, stop eating or you'll spoil your appetite. Inuyasha…" The man glanced up when she called his name, his eyebrows cocking upwards. "Be more cheerful."
He gave her a dry smile to which Kagome simply rolled her eyes. She stepped over the passed out Rin and plucked Souta's chips from his hand. Instantly the lanky teenager was on his feet, trying fruitlessly to pry the chips from his sister's hands. Kagome leaned out of the way and ducked under his arm in a way that could only be described as flexible. Despite the height difference, Kagome had mastered the art of elusive action.
Inuyasha watched the two as they proceeded to rampage throughout the room before disappearing into the next room over. The distant cries of an interrupted old man revealed that their escapades had proceeded to the family room where the old priest was watching some game show from a by-gone decade.
Inuyasha stretched slowly, scratching one of his concealed dog ears absently. He glanced at Rin, who kicked her foot out slowly, as if she were marching through mud and her foot had gotten stuck. He frowned and sighed. He might as well move her upstairs to her room if she was going to continue to sleep. If she could sleep through Kagome's shrieks of laughter and Souta's cries of revenge than the girl could obviously sleep through anything.
He swooped down to pick her up when she suddenly stiffened and her mouth fell open. He frowned, wondering if perhaps she was dreaming. He received his answer a moment later, however, when Rin gave out a tiny cry and started shaking.
Inuyasha moved to touch her but was afraid that he'd hurt her. She was dreaming, obviously, but it seemed that the dream was quickly evolving into a nightmare, if her facial expression had any say in her dreams. Her face was contorted into a deep cringe. She cried out again and her hand whipped out, catching the table and knocking against it.
"Rin…?" he questioned, hoping that perhaps Rin was only playing with him. When the girl didn't answer, he whipped his hand out and shook her shoulder. She started crying. He drew his hand away. "Rin? Answer me… are you okay?"
Rin continued shaking and crying, her body rolling and compressing into a tiny ball. He whipped his hand up. If Kagome or anyone else walked in any time soon they'd probably think she'd done something. He licked his lips.
"Kagome!" he called. He stood up and left the room, finding Kagome and Souta wrestling on the ground like a couple of small children. "Kagome, there's something wrong with Rin."
Kagome was gone from Souta's side faster than he'd ever seen her move—even when she was Kamen—and darted into the room Rin was currently writhing in. She turned her head to Souta.
"Get mama."
The boy needn't be told a second time. He raced up the stairs and disappeared from view. Inuyasha followed after Kagome and watched as she knelt down beside her sister and shook her. Rin didn't awaken but weakly called out for help.
"What's happening to her?" Inuyasha asked then bit the inside of his mouth. What a stupid question to ask. Of course Kagome didn't know. Kagome ran her hands over Rin before finding something.
"What's this?" Kagome whispered as she drew a bright purple dart from the back of Rin's neck. Inuyasha stared at it and his eyebrows creased.
"Where did it come from?" Inuyasha asked instead of answering Kagome's question.
"She didn't have it in her neck when she fell asleep…" Kagome whispered as Rin began to stir. Her gaze shifted around the room and landed on the open window. Curtains fluttered in the breeze innocently. She stood and moved to the window before jerking it open completely and peering outside.
Inuyasha stood as well and approached the window. He looked out over Kagome's shoulder. His eyes were better than hers, and if anyone was out there he was more likely to see it than she was. But he didn't see anything and he doubted Kagome would either.
"Do you think someone outside did it to her?" he ventured to ask Kagome. Why would someone shoot Rin with some kind of dart?
Rin had awakened and was now crying profusely in her mother's arms. Souta hovered over his mother's shoulders, seeing if there was anything he could do to comfort his little sister. The other three didn't know about the dart and Inuyasha watched as Kagome slipped into the pocket of her skirt. He had a feeling he'd see it later on at headquarters, where Kamen would probably be analyzing it.
"Are you okay, Rin?" Kagome asked as she knelt before Rin. Rin shook her head and buried herself in her mom's arms. Kagome frowned and glanced at the window again. "Another nightmare?"
"I'll make some tea," Inuyasha offered and exited the room, leaving the Higurashi family to comfort the youngest. He grasped the kettle and filled it with water. A couple minutes later he head the old priest waddle into the room, and his hard gaze on the man's back.
"I'm not going to poison the tea if that's what you're thinking," Inuyasha muttered and rolled his violet eyes heavenwards. The old man still didn't trust him and was absolutely convinced that he was demonic in someway (which, ironically enough, he was) and refused to let the man go anywhere in the house alone. He was even wary of leaving the hanyou in the bathroom on his own.
"Not now that I'm here," the old man grouched and slipped closer to the younger man. Inuyasha sighed and clenched his jaw, trying his hardest not to snap at the old quack.
Rin wailed in the other room and Inuyasha tried his hardest to ignore it. He glanced out the window and was almost positive he saw a flash of color. He frowned.
Suddenly, the lights above him flashed off and the entire house was shrouded in darkness. He heard Rin cry out again, this time from the fear of the increasing darkness in her life. A moment later, however, the lights surged back on. Inuyasha looked out the window again and saw lights surging in the distant buildings beyond. What an odd time to have a power surge. Perhaps an earthquake was coming soon?
He reached for the cupboard that held the cups but it flew open and mugs slammed to the ground, shattering and sending porcelain everywhere.
"Ah ha!" the old man gasped. "You have the power to control air, huh? Or are you a psychic demon?" He waved his hands in the air, as if trying to summon powers from thin air. Inuyasha gave him a withered glare.
"I'm not doing anything, it was an accident. The mugs were probably leaning against the door of the cupboard," Inuyasha tried to explain but the elderly man refused to listen and instead when off on a tangent of how his grandchildren could allow an evil presence in the house.
He knocked on the door a couple of times before taking a step back. Smoothing the ruffles of his flyaway hair, Inuyasha stood on Kagome's front stoop, preparing to pick her up for the dinner he'd invited her to. He swallowed thickly—his first date. If he needed a reason to be called a complete loser this was the reason right here—twenty-two and going on his first date. Oh yeah, he was a loser.
But that didn't seem to matter to Kagome, and that's all that mattered. He could only pray that he didn't mess up tonight with her. If all went well, there could be a second date… or a third… or…
He was getting ahead of himself. He picked at his shirt, removing an invisible and nonexistent piece of dirt that had apparently been on his shoulder. The trick was to keep it cool, he determined. Nonchalant.
Such thoughts of 'playing it cool' and acting nonchalant blasted out the window when the door slipped open and his eyes landed on the girl before him. She didn't do anything particularly different from her everyday style and for that he was grateful because neither had he.
She smoothed the wrinkle in her sundress and looked up at him shyly, her cheeks a light pink, matching the hue of the dress she adorned. God, why was she always so… cute?
"Oh…!" His face was enflamed, he could tell. He'd been caught off guard… Kagome had answered the door when he was in the middle of his silent pep talk. How dare she! He wasn't prepared for her… he wasn't…
His eyes blinked as he took in her gaze, his lavender orbs darkening as he caught sight of her before him. She was so pretty… beautiful… amazing…
He was turning into a bloody poet, he realized with some dismay. How could Kagome have such an effect on him? He found that he really couldn't care less, as long as she stayed where she was, looking up at him expectantly, the wind rustling the hem of her summer dress.
"Hi," he said awkwardly. Kagome beamed.
"Hi," she returned.
"Want to go, then?" he asked and Kagome nodded happily, stepping out into the night and shutting the door behind her. She shouldered her purse and looked up at him expectantly. He cleared his throat and took a step down off the stoop.
He turned to her and held out a hand which she gratefully took. He realized with complete and utter delight that their fingers melded together and laced perfectly, as if his hand had been created for the soul purpose of grasping Kagome's tenderly.
Things after that moved smoothly. During the movie they went to see, Kagome happily laid her head on his shoulder and he didn't even have to pretend to be stealthy when he slipped his arm around her shoulders. During dinner they talked the entire time and only had to battle against awkward silences two or three times.
They spent the rest of the evening walking slowly, his arm wrapped around her and holding her tight. Neither seemed to mind such a position and they moved as one, her hand slung around his waist and idly playing with the hem of his shirt.
As they approached Kagome's front stoop, Kagome climbed the steps, breaking away from his grasp so that she could look down at him. He swallowed the lump that had decided to nestle in his throat and looked at her expectantly, as if she were about to say something to him.
They stood awkwardly, their eyes locking. Kagome shuffled her feet and worried her lower lip. His eyes trailed to her lips, watching as her tongue darted out and wetted the dry mouth. She shifted, her hands gripping themselves in front of her as she rocked back and forth. The blush that peppered her face gave her an innocent look and he was captivated by such a look.
Kagome tilted her head to the side, black hair spilling over shoulder as she looked down at him from her higher position on top of her steps. Inuyasha felt himself falling slowly into the deep ocean that swirled in her eyes.
He didn't move and didn't turn to leave even though he knew he was supposed to. The wind blew around them tentatively, as if afraid that it would break the spell that was slowly forming around the two. Kagome's blue eyes burned brightly, swirling like a raging ocean fruitlessly harbored in her gaze. She was thinking deeply, of what, Inuyasha wasn't sure. But he had never seen anyone look more alluring and fascinating.
"What are you waiting for?" Kagome's voice questioned abruptly. Inuyasha blinked slowly, wondering if perhaps he'd just imagined Kagome speaking to him. The girl stood, her hips lightly jutted outwards as she gazed down at him. Her smiling face faded into a thin line as she contemplated him.
Wait; did she want him to go away? Or say something? Or—his face burned with the very thought of it—kiss her?
"Waiting for?" he repeated.
"Aren't you going to…?" Kagome asked and trailed off. Something seemed to click in Inuyasha's mind when her look turned earnest. Of course she wanted him to kiss her. He felt his heart hammering against his chest and felt a small shiver of desire climb up his spine.
He took a step towards her, his foot planting itself on the step. Kagome took a step backwards to accommodate the extra body on her front stoop. Her back pressed against the building and she stared up at him, her blue eyes misting over like clouds before a storm. Her angelic, oceanic gaze caused him to nearly lose his nerve—the intense look in her eyes was enough to make anyone go crazy.
He planned his course of action. How exactly was Kagome expecting this to work? He obviously couldn't read her mind and her eyes, glowing in the starlight, did little to quell his fears and questions. Not for the first time Inuyasha cursed his stupidity with such things. He was thankful that Kagome was so understanding and caring.
His hands reached up and cupped her cheeks hesitantly, his palms molding to the curve of her cheeks. His thumbs breezed over her cheekbones and her burning red skin. It seemed that all the blood in his body was relocating to his face. Her tiny, button nose twitched and she lifted her gaze from his lips to his eyes.
They stood in silence like that—Inuyasha's hands cupping her face as she stared up at him expectantly. The wind blew his black hair into his face and he licked his lips. He knew his own expression probably mirrored Kagome's, but he didn't care. He just wanted to kiss her.
Her lips parted slightly and she leaned to her right, leaning into the warmth of one of his hands. Her eyes darted to his wrists just below her chin before returning to his face at full attention. She licked her lips again and reached her own hands up, cupping his hands over hers. It seemed that her silent, simple touch sent a wildfire of emotions blazing through him, starting at the tips of his fingers which Kagome's own hands touched, to his tiny, insignificant toes.
He took a step towards her and felt the warmth of her body next to his. Her back flattened against the building and she released the tiniest of noises—he wasn't sure if it was a sigh or a whimper or perhaps a hybrid of both noises, but he liked it nonetheless. Her eyes were sparkling earnestly and her whole body portrayed someone who'd waited centuries for this moment.
He'd already kissed her before, he knew. So he wasn't entirely sure why it was that he was drawing this moment out more than strictly necessary. She looked eager for his lips and he didn't want to make her wait. Unlike last time, his kiss would be expected and accepted.
"Kagome…" he murmured her name, and those three syllables seemed to cast a spell between the two, shrouding them into their own, perfect world. Everything beyond them was insignificant and unimportant. At this moment and this moment alone Inuyasha and Kagome only cared about the other.
It seemed as if he'd been dropped into molasses. He was moving so slowly yet wanted to move as quickly as he could. His head moved a fraction of an inch, closing in on Kagome. The distance between their lips was steadily growing smaller and smaller. Kagome seemed just as eager to close the distance between them as he was and lifted herself onto the tips of her toes.
Finally, the distance seemed too far for them to bear and he dipped his head. His lips brushed over hers in a feathery touch and he felt a rush of air pull into Kagome's mouth as she quickly sucked her breath inwards. He quickly pulled away quickly—he was barely a fraction of an inch away from her quivering pink lips. Their eyes, only half open, gazed at the opposite's lips. He lifted her face and felt her moving with him as his lips slanted over hers, covering them completely with his own for a portion of an instant before he pulled away again, slowly.
His heart was thundering and he was completely positive that he could very well die right now and never know it. He'd been blasted upwards into heaven with Kagome in his arms and it was the greatest feeling in the world. He could bare his entire being to Kagome right then and there and he wouldn't care. Anything she could have asked in that moment he would have answered.
She took a step towards him, pressing herself against him as her hands left the warmth of his own hands and slipped around his neck, drawing him near. The breath in his lungs seemed to rush out before he sucked in another lungful. Once his lungs were sated, he stepped forward, completing the pressing of their bodies, pushing Kagome once again against the wall and kissing her.
This kiss lasted longer than the other two he'd initiated. He held her close, one hand straying from her cheek to push against the small of her back. He felt the fabric of her dress against the pads of his fingers and the warmth of her body beneath the cool fabric. This moment seemed so long… yet entirely too short.
He moved against her, drawing her bottom lip in between his own mouth, drawing a contented little sigh from Kagome. Taking that as a good sign to carry on, he continued his torturous kiss, holding her securely while pressing her against the wall. When finally his lungs screamed for air he pulled away from her, saddened that he'd have to break the connection.
Kagome's eyes stayed shut for another second before they fluttered open. She blinked a couple of times, her lips moving wordlessly as she tried to grasp the words that had been stolen away from her. Inuyasha offered her a tentative smile and she returned it. The hand left on her cheek moved slightly and his thumb grazed over her reddened skin carelessly as he took in her unmasked beauty.
Her blue eyes, still gleaming in the light of the stars and her own frivolous emotions, strayed from his lips where they'd lodged themselves and took in the glow of his masculine face. She moved her lips again, trying to speak, before shutting them tightly and gazing silently at his face.
"Goodnight, Kagome…" he murmured, regretfully pulling away from the warmth of Kagome's body. The miko nodded mutely before her face flamed again.
"Inuyasha…" she murmured, reaching out a hand and brushing black hair away from his face. The lock of ebony hair swayed slightly before returning to its original place just near his lavender eyes. She locked on the incredible amethyst orbs that gazed at her so caringly. She was lost in his eyes and she didn't care.
She made a move to open her door, saddened that the enchanting moment was over. She was about to open the door when his hand caught her wrist and he tugged her towards him again. She eagerly and willingly came to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and standing on the tips of her toes again so that she could reach him.
Teasingly she grazed her lips over his and he pressed back enthusiastically, ready to hold her tight for as long as he needed to. She clenched her fists in the fabric of his button-down shirt and delved into the warmth of his body. She felt his fingers thread through her hair while his other hand encased her in a one arm embrace, his palm idly rubbing her side.
When they pulled away again, it was for pure necessity of air. Kagome breathed deeply, drawing in oxygen while her deep-sea colored gaze captured the brilliant violet of Inuyasha's. Her hand moved from his back and cupped his cheek much like he had for her. His lips parted slightly when her thumb brushed over the proffered lips.
His eyes flickered; taking in the sights of her eyes, her nose, her lips… he found himself drowning in her beauty and didn't care in the least. His fingers pulled softly through her ebony locks, his concealed claws daring to graze over her sensitive scalp. The shiver that rippled through her frame was his reward and he smiled lightly at her reaction.
"I've got to go…" she whispered regretfully, and her eyes mirrored the disappointment in her voice. He nodded calmly but his hold on her didn't relent. He finally had her, he'd be damned if he let her go so quickly.
She finally managed to dislodge herself from Inuyasha and took a step towards the door. Smiling brightly, she slipped the door open and disappeared behind the wooden barrier between man and woman.
Inuyasha blew out a breath of air he hadn't known he was holding before his face split into a delightful ear-to-ear smile. He'd just kissed Kagome… and she liked it.
Oh yeah, he ruled.