#16 – Slip of the tongue

She was staring at him with an expression of mute shock. It was almost as if she couldn't decide whether he had just said something undeniably brilliant, or incredibly stupid.

Inu Yasha was not sure he knew the answer.

"Ahh…" His face was decidedly pale, although he was almost certain he felt feverish. He dug his feet into the earth at his feet, clenching his hands at his sides. "I…didn't mean to say that…"

Surprised that he would admit to such a thing so suddenly, Kagome only blinked, her expression not wavering. She waited a few moments to find her voice before speaking softly, "I can see that." She looked down, studying her hands folded neatly in her lap. They were trembling slightly. "I didn't really think you meant it…"

"I did!" Inu Yasha froze, shrinking back at the look of surprise skirting across her face. Shit…. "I mean, I didn't…I mean… that is…" He was starting to feel sick now.

Kagome looked at him, tilting her head in curiosity. "Well, did you or didn't you?"

He blinked, feeling at a loss for words, before sitting down on his haunches in frustration. "I dunno… it was just a stupid accident, all right?"

Kagome had to duck her head to hide her smile. She never could help thinking to herself how cute he looked sulking like that… it was almost like back in the beginning when it was just the two of them. It was as if everything she said seemed to confuse him.

Of course… she'd had to go and complicate things by falling in love with him…

"Hey," And as it usually was when she found herself deep in thought, he was suddenly there right in front of her, causing her to squeak in surprise. "Are you mad at me?"

She paused, studying his features before offering a shake of her head. "No, I'm not mad," she answered softly. And she honestly wasn't… she was just… surprised. Well, she was a little upset as well, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out why. "It was an accident, like you said."

Oh, that was why…

He pulled back away from her, and Kagome found she missed the close proximity. Inu Yasha was now sitting back with a strange expression on his face. Unsure of what to say to each other, an uneasy silence fell between them.

Inu Yasha was the first to break the silence. "I'm sorry," he said, his whole body tense as if the very words had had to be forcefully removed from his body.

"What?" Kagome blinked again, confusion clear on her face.

He turned to her, his expression surprisingly earnest. "I meant it…" he said. "I meant every word of it."

Kagome was silent, unsure of what to say. "You… meant it…?" Inu Yasha remained silent, refusing to meet her eyes. "Then why are you sorry?"

This caught him off guard, causing him to turn with an angry – but not at her – expression on his face. "I messed everything up," he near-growled. "I shouldn't have said anything – I was never gonna say anything at all!"

Kagome felt stung. "Why not?"

His eyes locked with hers and she froze. "Cuz I knew if I did you'd be giving that same look you're giving me right now."

She wasn't sure how to respond to that.

Again, silence fell between them, lasting several moments before Inu Yasha cursed under his breath and rose to his feet. It was only her hand grasping his sleeve that prevented him from walking off.

"What?" He tried to sound indifferent.

Kagome did not look up at him. "Don't be like that," she pleaded softly. "Please."

His ears drooped, all his gruff defiance rushing out of him like a gust of air. "What am I supposed to be like then?"

He sounded so defeated; Kagome's heart gave a painful twinge. "I'm sorry…" she murmured. "I didn't know what to…"

"You shouldn't have had to say anything," he said. He wanted to leave, to run off and forget this whole debacle and yet… why was it that her weak grip on his sleeve kept him rooted in place?

Damn…

"It was my fault for running my dumb mouth… I shouldn't have said anything."

She was silent a moment. "Do you regret saying it?" she asked him.

He lurched forward, the resistance at his arm once again tugging him back into place. "No…" he blinked, surprised to find that he actually meant it. He glanced back at Kagome, startled to find a relieved and yet hopeful smile on her face. "…"

"I'm glad…" She let go of his sleeve, letting his arm fall limply to his side.

The silence that fell between them this time was still awkward, but nowhere near as uncomfortable as before. Inu Yasha remained where he was a few moments longer before turning and walking away.

"Inu Yasha…?" He stopped, but did not turn back to face her. Kagome rose, her smile brightening as a blush stole across her cheeks. "I… I love you, too."

He nodded once, disappearing into the dark shadows of the forest…

…with a goofy grin on his face.

End