This chapter is named after the song "Miracle" by Paramore.
Chapter 4: Miracle (Use Your Eyes)
During the last few days of their journey, Inuyasha was starting to get antsy.
He could tell Kagome noticed; she didn't try to engage him in conversation like she normally would. It was quiet between them, and Inuyasha was grateful for the silence.
If the swordsmith didn't have any information about Naraku, Inuyasha wasn't sure what he would do next.
This is the only thing even remotely close to a lead I've had in a really long time, he grumbled silently. I need to stay with Kagome to lure Naraku out, but I need to figure out where he might be first.
He growled. It's going to be impossible to try and find other leads on Naraku with her around. If this swordsmith doesn't have any information, I'll just leave her. It's pointless traveling with her if I can't make any progress. I've already wasted fifteen years. I don't want to waste anymore time.
"Um, are you okay?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha shook himself from his thoughts.
"I'm fine," he replied gruffly. He felt Kagome's eyes on him.
"You sure?" she asked. "You were...growling a bit."
He scoffed. "Keh. You're hearing things."
Kagome frowned, but she didn't press him further.
As they walked, Inuyasha tried to turn his brain off and just focus on getting to the island. It worked for the most part, and he eventually started to feel a bit calmer.
But then they reached the coast.
Inuyasha cursed.
I didn't think about how we would get to the island. I'm so stupid.
"Um," Kagome began, "how-"
"I don't know," Inuyasha interrupted gruffly. "Do you think I'd be standing here doing nothing if I-"
He noticed the wide-eyed expression on Kagome's face at his outburst.
"I'm sorry," Inuyasha said immediately. "I didn't...I wasn't trying to…"
"It's okay," Kagome replied. "We just need to find a way to get across the water." She looked out at the island that was clearly visible.
"Why don't we just swim?" she suggested. "We can hide our stuff here so it doesn't get wet and get it when we swim back."
Inuyasha scowled. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
Besides…
"Can you even swim that long?" he asked. "It's two miles."
Kagome shrugged. "I can try. We could always just float for a bit if one of us gets tired."
Right, because that sounds better.
Inuyasha huffed. "Fine." There was no other option, so they might as well get a move on.
He and Kagome found a spot to stash their belongings. Kagome also kicked off her shoes and cloak, making sure everything was hidden.
Inuyasha was hesitant to leave his cloak behind, but he figured he would be able to lie low on the island until they found the youkai swordsmith. He wouldn't have to worry about hiding once he found him.
The only thing he really had to worry about was Kagome overhearing his true intentions.
Wait...this is the perfect excuse.
"I don't want you to slow me down," Inuyasha said suddenly, making Kagome pause where she was hiding her things.
"Excuse you?" she asked. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"You should just wait here for me," Inuyasha insisted. "Then you don't have to swim all the way there and all the back. Anyway, it's a youkai thing. You'd just be bored."
"Hey!" Kagome protested. "I wouldn't get bored by youkai." She paused. "But...it's your sword, and if you want privacy while getting it looked at, then I'll wait here."
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Um, thanks."
"I'll watch our stuff while you're gone," she said. Inuyasha nodded.
"Thanks," he repeated lamely. "See you in a while."
He dove into the water, trying to ignore the chilly temperature.
He swam the two miles rather easily and made it to the shoreline of the island without incident.
Once he'd gotten out of the water and shaken off, he took a quick sniff of the air. When he caught the scent of something other than the volcano, he headed towards it.
He came upon a small cave that looked more like a skeleton head than an actual cave.
He frowned and called into the entrance.
"Hello?"
"Who's there?"
Inuyasha jumped at the sudden loud voice.
"My name is...Yosuke," he lied. He adjusted the hood over his head, hoping to remain inconspicuous.
"Ah. Come in."
Inuyasha braced himself and entered the cave.
He saw the fire first and then an old man with his hair in a bun and a rather singed beard.
And huge eyes. Creepy, huge eyes.
"Uh, hello," Inuyasha greeted with an incline of his head. "Are you the youkai swordsmith?"
"I am," he replied. "My name is Totosai. And yours is...Yosuke?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Yes." Totosai hummed.
"I see...are you quite sure about that?"
Inuyasha frowned. "I...I think I would know my own name, old man."
Before Totosai could reply, Inuyasha felt a pinch on his nose.
He slapped the skin, hearing a weak cry of pain before something floated down onto his palm.
A small bug was staring back up at him with wide eyes.
"Lord Inuyasha!" he exclaimed. "I'm so glad you made it!"
"Myoga?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"
He felt panic start to set in.
Myoga was a loyal vassal of the Inu no Taisho, so there was no doubt he would try to turn him in to Sesshomaru…
"I've been wondering when you would arrive," Myoga continued. "It's taken you quite a bit longer than I'd expected."
Inuyasha frowned. "How did you even know I was coming?"
Myoga laughed. "Oh, right." He hopped off of Inuyasha's shoulder and transformed with a cloud of smoke.
When the smoke dissipated, Inuyasha was face-to-face with the fruit vendor who had originally told him where to find Totosai.
"That was you?" Inuyasha asked. "What the hell, Myoga? Why wouldn't you have turned me in to Sessomaru?"
Myoga transformed back into a flea and hopped into Inuyasha's palm again.
"I disagree with Lord Sesshomaru," he admitted. "I want revenge for Lord Toga and Lady Izayoi's deaths. Killing Naraku is the way to do that, so I sent you this way for that reason."
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Really? Does Sesshomaru know you're here?"
"Of course not," Myoga replied. "I told him I needed to visit a sick relative."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Do you even have any relatives?"
Myoga grinned. "No, but I did what I needed to do."
"Alright," Totosai cut in. "Now that we all know each other, let me take a look at Tessaiga."
Inuyasha frowned. "How do you know my sword's name?"
Totosai stood up. "I made it, of course. Your father had me make your sword as well as your brother's." Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"Really?" he asked as he drew his sword. "You couldn't have made something a little more, I don't know, usable?"
Totosai ignored him and walked over to inspect the blade.
"How many times has it transformed?" the old swordsmith asked.
Inuyasha paused. "What do you mean 'transformed?' It's never done anything like that."
Totosai hummed. "I see. Well, I guess you're useless then."
Inuyasha growled. "Hey now, old man. I'm not useless."
"You can't even get the sword to transform!" Totosai argued.
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha repeated.
Totosai sighed. "The Tessaiga is more than just a rusty katana. It's an extension of yourself and of your soul. If you can't master it and tap into its true power, you are hopeless."
Inuyasha was quiet for a moment. Transform? I don't even know how I would do that...
"Care to elaborate?" he asked. "You can't just say something that cryptic and not explain."
"Nope," Totosai replied. "It's up to you, boy."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Anyway, Myoga said you might have information on where Naraku is. Is that true or was it just a ploy to get me here for whatever reason?"
Totosai frowned at Myoga. "Is that what you told him?"
Myoga smiled sheepishly. "Perhaps." He looked at Inuyasha. "But I'd been looking for you for so long when I found you in the town. Hiding my identity...I couldn't risk you thinking I'd turn you in and I needed to get you here to see Totosai so you can learn more about the sword. You need to master the Tessaiga, my lord! If you wish to eradicate Naraku, you need to understand it. That is why I wanted you to come see Totosai."
The flea-youkai glared at the swordsmith. "Even though he's being more difficult than usual now."
Inuyasha grimaced. "I can't eradicate Naraku if I don't know where he is! Myoga, you idiot! Why would you lie about that?"
Myoga hopped up and down in Inuyasha's palm, trying to maintain his attention.
"It was the only way to get you here!" he pleaded. "Please, just listen to Totosai."
Inuyasha huffed. "Fine." He glanced at Totosai. "What do you have to say, old man?"
Totosai looked at him with a blank expression on his face.
"Huh? About what?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I'm out of here."
"Totosai!" Myoga scolded. "Help the poor boy!"
"Alright, alright," Totosai conceded. "It'll only take a moment, Inuyasha."
The hanyo paused, frowning at the old man. "I'm listening."
Totosai nodded. "The key to mastering Tessaiga is within you. You've been on your own since you left the castle, right?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "Not the whole time. There was...one person, but I'm not with him anymore. I'm traveling with someone else right now."
"Interesting," Totosai replied. "I sense that Tessaiga has certainly taken to her."
Inuyasha paused. "What does that mean? And how did you even know it was a woman I'm traveling with?"
"My Lord!" Myoga exclaimed. "Have you found yourself a lady?"
Inuyasha blushed. "It's not like that! Now is that all you have to say to me? I'm ready to leave."
Myoga laughed for a moment while Totosai rolled his eyes.
"Just remember what I said," Totosai reminded him. "The key to mastering Tessaiga is inside of you, but not for you. Do you understand?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "Not a bit. What do you mean not for me? I need to fight off my enemies. What other purpose could the sword have?"
Totosai shook his head. "You still have a very long way to go."
"Whatever," Inuyasha replied curtly. He'd had just about enough of this. "So you don't know anything about Naraku's whereabouts?"
"Not at all," Totosai said. "But perhaps you could check with some other youkai."
Inuyasha frowned. "I can't interact with any other youkai. They'll turn me into Sesshomaru and then I'll be screwed. I won't be able to find Naraku if I'm trapped in the castle."
Myoga nodded. "How about this? You continue to travel as you were and keep an ear out for any leads. I will go around in an attempt to find someone who knows something. When you're as small as I am, it's easy to overhear things."
"Tell me about the woman you're with," Totosai cut in. "Who is she?"
"She's...just a woman," Inuyasha replied, not wanting to divulge too much. "Anyway, I'm leaving. Come find me when you hear something, Myoga."
He nodded in parting before leaving the cave.
"Goodbye!" Myoga called.
"Treat that sword with respect," Totosai ordered.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and left the cave. He looked across the water and bit his lip, deciding to take a moment to think about his next move.
He walked a bit down the shore and sat down on a rock, wondering what he should do.
They weren't all that helpful, he mused. I need to keep moving on my own. I just need to tell Kagome I think it's best we part ways and...that'll be that.
He felt a small twinge of guilt, but he tried to push it from his mind.
His priority was finding Naraku and gaining revenge.
Inuyasha sighed and got up, diving into the water to begin swimming back to the mainland. Once he'd reached the beach, he shook himself off and went to find Kagome.
She was sitting where he left her, but she had her knitting things in her lap.
When she caught sight of him, she smiled.
"That didn't take too long," she said as she put her knitting away. "How did it go? Did the swordsmith help you with your sword?"
Inuyasha winced. "Uh...not exactly. Apparently my sword is a bit more... special than I thought."
Kagome looked intrigued. "Really? Wow, that must be exciting."
"Not exactly," Inuyasha grumbled. "It's a pain because it'll take time for me to figure out how to get it to work. I didn't get any real answers."
Kagome smiled. "I believe in you. I know you'll get it eventually."
Inuyasha looked at her, noting the sincerity in her tone and the encouraging gleam in her eyes. He couldn't help the pang of guilt that had settled itself in the pit of his stomach during his swim, but he knew he needed to tell her it was time to part ways.
"Um, Kagome…" He trailed off, uncertain of how to proceed.
She laughed, distracting him.
"What's so funny?" he asked defensively.
Kagome smiled and shook her head. "Nothing. You just sound kinda funny saying my name, is all. It's a little weird." Her smile brightened. "But it's nice, too. It's a step up from just 'woman.'"
Inuyasha's rude retort died in his throat as their eyes locked. Kagome's smile remained, and Inuyasha couldn't remember the last time someone had smiled at him so much, let alone been so kind to him.
And, in all honesty, he wasn't ready to let that go.
Maybe we could travel together a little longer. That probably won't be too bad…
"Whatever, woman," he replied, almost smiling when she laughed at him using the nickname again. "Let's go."
Kagome's smile was just as bright when she nodded and followed after him as he started to walk away.
"So do you have somewhere in mind for us to go next?" Kagome asked. "We saw the swordsmith, so now where should we go?"
Inuyasha bit his lip, trying to decide what his next step should be.
I don't want to just wander around aimlessly until Myoga finds me again, he mused. But what else can I do? I can't think of any other option…
"I don't know," Inuyasha finally admitted. "Do you have any ideas?"
Kagome took a moment to think.
"Maybe we could do something fun," she suggested.
Inuyasha frowned. "Fun? What's the point in that?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Inuyasha. We just made this long trekk here. I can tell you're disappointed about the sword, so why don't we do something fun to take your mind off of it?"
"Like what?" Inuyasha asked, regretting his question.
"What kinds of things do you enjoy doing?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
Kagome laughed. "Fine, then I will suggest some stuff and we'll do whatever you hate the least. Okay?" Without waiting for his response, Kagome began listing off some ideas.
Inuyasha tuned her out, knowing he was going to hate all of her ideas.
But then one word caught his attention.
"Did you say hanami?" he asked, interrupting her.
Kagome nodded. "Yeah. We're bound to see hanami celebrations since it's the season for sakura blossoms. We'll probably even see some of the newer ones. I think they're called somei yoshino."
Mother used to love hanami celebrations, he recalled. I haven't been to one since she died...
"Do you want to go to one?" Kagome asked, her voice sounding gentler.
Inuyasha looked at her, and he could see the understanding in her eyes.
The way she could so easily tell how he was feeling...it was startling.
"I guess," Inuyasha replied, trying to sound casual. "They're not that bad, so...fine."
Kagome smiled. "Great. Let me check the map and see how far away we are from the places I've been. I'm so excited! I'll need to get a new yukata."
A yukata...that's right. Mother used to always wear a traditional yukata and I would wear…
He gripped the strap of his bag a bit tighter, thinking about the clothing he still kept with him.
"We can find something new for you to wear, too," Kagome continued.
"Maybe," Inuyasha replied, not wanting to explain the clothing he had with him.
Kagome pulled the map from her bag and paused, trying to find whatever town she was looking for.
"Ah-ha!" she said as pointed to a spot on the map. "Here we go. Hanami is lovely in Higo. Let's see. It'll take us…" She paused to do the math in her head.
"About two or two-and-a-half days to walk there. Sound good?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."
As they set off, Inuyasha settled into a silence. He started to think about what the old swordsmith had said, but he soon pushed it from his mind. At the moment, he didn't want to think about the riddles the stupid old man had been spewing.
He focused instead of how it had felt oddly comforting to feel two youkai auras so close to him. It had been awhile since he'd been able to interact with other youkai. He was so used to only feeling humans' auras...it was oddly soothing to have felt the aura of another youkai.
"So, Inuyasha," Kagome began, breaking the silence. "Can I ask you something?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "I guess."
Kagome was quiet for another moment.
"Your aura feels stronger," she finally said. "Like it's been rejuvenated."
Inuyasha glanced at her. It's insane how easily she can read me.
"Kinda," he replied. "It's been awhile since I've talked with another youkai, so…"
"Why?" Kagome pressed.
Inuyasha frowned, wondering if he should tell her.
If she starts asking more questions, I'll just shut her down.
"I'm...kind of a fugitive," he admitted. Kagome's eyes widened.
"Um, what? Does that mean we could get ambushed by youkai at some point?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Not if we're careful!"
Kagome huffed. "What did you do to make you have to go on the run?"
Inuyasha grimaced. "My older half-brother is the Inu no Taisho, which is kind of like the ruler of all youkai."
"So you're a prince?" Kagome asked incredulously. Inuyasha grimaced.
"No," he lied. "I'm not. I'm just…"
"Royalty?" Kagome supplied. "Nobility?"
Inuyasha huffed. That didn't sound as bad. "Nobility is...closer."
"So do I have to call you 'Your Highness' now?" Kagome teased.
"Don't be stupid," Inuyasha scolded. "I pretty much renounced my title anyway. If I went back...well, let's just say I wouldn't be welcomed with open arms."
"Why?" Kagome asked. "What did you do?"
Inuyasha paused. "I...didn't like living in the castle." Which was true. "I faced a lot of hate for being a hanyo." Which was also true. "So I left."
"I'm sorry," Kagome said sincerely. "I guess we're alike in that way...both on the run, both a little too different to fit in."
Inuyasha locked eyes with her, seeing the understanding in her blue irises. She gave a sad smile.
"Right?" she asked gently.
Inuyasha couldn't help but keep his eyes on hers.
"Right," he agreed quietly.
"Well, Sir Nobleman," she teased. "You told me another something about yourself, so I guess I'll tell you something, too. I'll tell you what the power you've been feeling is if you're still curious."
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Really?" Kagome nodded.
"It's from a jewel called the Shikon no Tama," she explained. "I'm its...guardian, I guess you could say. The person who is after me wants to take it from me and use it for their own gain. That's the power you've been feeling. When I do my 'miko stuff' at waterfalls, I'm purifying it. It's best done near water sources like that."
Shikon no Tama...I've heard legends about it. It's supposedly one of the most powerful things ever created.
"Why would you tell me about it?" he asked. "Aren't you afraid I would try to steal it from you?"
Kagome shook her head. "No. You saved my life from thieves without a second thought. How could I not trust you after that?"
She trusts me that much? That only makes the guilt I'm feeling even worse…but I've got my answer. The jewel must be what Naraku wants from her. But why?
"Well, thanks for telling me," he replied flatly. "Why does the person chasing you want the jewel?"
Kagome smiled. "One secret at a time."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and looked ahead, focusing on walking forward.
"So," Kagome began, her voice becoming cheerful, "we've got a quick journey ahead of us and then hanami. I'm so excited. When was the last time you attended one?"
Inuyasha thought back. Easily sixteen years...maybe longer.
"It's been a long time," he said. "I used to go with my family. My mother really loved it."
Kagome smiled again. "My mom loved going, too. We would go to ones up north, though. I've only been to Higo once or twice to celebrate by myself." She laughed. "Well, not by myself anymore. It'll be nice to have someone to go with again."
Inuyasha looked at her, at the way her blue eyes shone a little brighter, no doubt from her excitement.
He wanted to say something to her, something nice to ease the guilt he was feeling, but he didn't think words could capture what was going through his mind.
So he stayed quiet, allowing her to chatter on about hanami.
He was looking forward to it, too.
O.o.O.o.O
A few hours into their trekk to Higo, Inuyasha paused.
He frowned. "I smell human blood."
Kagome's eyes widened as she looked around their surroundings. "Where?"
Inuyasha walked off, beckoning for Kagome to follow him.
Eventually, they came upon a woman sitting on the ground with a small pool of blood in front of her.
"Are you injured?" Kagome asked as they approached. The woman sniffled and looked up at Kagome and Inuyasha.
"I tripped and cut my foot on a rock," she said in a shaky voice. "The bleeding hasn't stopped."
Kagome knelt next to the woman and grabbed a few medical supplies out of her bag.
The cut on the woman's foot was deep, but it also looked a little mangled.
"I think you might have broken it," Kagome said. "Do you mind if I touch it a bit to check?" The woman sniffled again and nodded.
Kagome gently felt along the woman's bone, decreasing the pressure of her fingers when the woman winced and hissed in pain.
"I'm almost certain that it's broken," Kagome admitted. "You'll need to see a proper doctor for it, but I can wrap it up for you for the time being. Are you by yourself out here?"
A fresh wave of tears fell down the woman's cheeks. "Yes."
"Why would you come out here alone, woman?" Inuyasha asked gruffly. "You're just askin' for trouble."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded, shooting him a sharp glare. "You're not helping."
Kagome turned back to the woman and started pulling out the items from her bag.
"I'm going to clean the wound and wrap your foot," she explained. "Is that okay?" The woman nodded.
"Yes, thank you," she replied. Kagome smiled and got to work.
Once the woman's foot was clean and wrapped, Kagome put her things away.
"Alright, I'm finished," she announced. "I'll help you up."
Kagome helped ease the woman to a standing position, aiding her in keeping her weight solely to her uninjured foot.
Okay, we got up, she mused, but how do we actually move?
Before she could make any suggestions, she felt a clawed hand set on her back, gently pushing her to the side.
She opened her mouth to argue, only to stop short when she saw Inuyasha help the woman get on his back.
He blushed when Kagome smiled gratefully.
"Keh," he scoffed. "You can't very well carry her, can you?"
Kagome shook her head. "You've got me there. Which way should we go, ma'am?"
The woman gave them some quick instructions before they set off toward the nearby town.
"So what were you doing out there by yourself?" Kagome asked politely. "If you don't mind me asking."
The woman grimaced. "I got into an argument with my husband. I was trying to walk off my anger, but...looks like I won't really be walking much now."
"I see," Kagome replied. "Would you like for us to take you home to him or take you straight to a hospital?"
"Home, please," the woman said. "Hopefully my injury will dissipate any lingering anger on his part."
Kagome smiled. "I should hope so."
The woman directed them to her house, and when they reached it, she encouraged them to head inside.
Upon entering, a man stood up from where he was seated on a mat on the floor.
"Darling!" he cried. "I've been worried sick about you!" He looked at Inuyasha and Kagome. "What's going on?"
The woman dissolved into tears again. "I hurt my foot."
Inuyasha and Kagome exchanged a glance.
I think it's time to get out of here.
"Um," Kagome began, "I believe her foot is broken. I wrapped the injury as best I can, but she'll need to see a doctor."
The man nodded. "Thank you so much. I appreciate it."
The woman smiled at Kagome through her tears. "Thank you both for your help."
Once Inuyasha and Kagome left, the latter took a deep breath.
"I'm glad that's over," she mumbled. "I like helping people, but that was a bit much."
Inuyasha tilted his head to look at her. "What? You don't like wailing women?"
Kagome laughed. "As a matter of fact, I don't. I don't handle people crying very well. It's a little awkward." She shook her head. "I don't usually know what to say."
"You seemed to know what to say to that woman," Inuyasha pointed out.
Kagome shrugged. "I suppose. Thanks."
They fell into a silence as Kagome's thoughts drifted to the kindness Inuyasha had shown the woman. He hadn't even hesitated to carry her, and Kagome wondered what other virtues he was hiding from her.
He's brave and strong...and more considerate than he seems. He's kind of an enigma.
Her thoughts were a bit all over the place until they'd decided to stop for the night, so much so that she didn't realize she was staring at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha glanced at her and frowned. "What are you lookin' at?"
Kagome shook her head and came to sit down next to him where he was getting a fire started.
"Oh, nothing."
Inuyasha frowned but turned back to the wood in front of him. Once he'd gotten it going, he leaned back on his hands and sat quietly.
Kagome bit her lip, wanting to break the silence but not sure what to say.
So she just sighed and lay down on her back on the ground, staring up at the sky and admiring the stars.
"Wow," she breathed. "The stars are so beautiful tonight."
She heard Inuyasha scoff quietly. "They're just stars."
Kagome lifted her head up to grin at him. "Just shut up and lay down," she teased. "Admire the stars for a few minutes before the flames smoke them out."
Inuyasha grumbled a bit before laying down next to her.
Kagome sighed contentedly as they lay in a peaceful silence.
Finally, she spoke.
"So I thought it was very kind of you to carry that woman earlier."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Nothin' kind about it. I just wanted to get on our way."
Kagome smiled. "Sure."
He's kinder than he lets on...
But Kagome felt a little guilty.
"I wish I could've done more for her," she mused out loud, keeping her gaze on the stars above them. "But I don't know how to set broken bones."
Inuyasha frowned. "That's why you told her to see a doctor? I figured you just didn't want to do it in the middle of a forest. I thought you said you knew medical stuff."
Kagome shook her head. "Kinda. Miko are just well-versed in some sorts of healing practices. My mother actually knew how to set broken bones, but...she never got to teach me."
She felt a lump in her throat, knowing that it was one more piece of her mother's knowledge that she'd never get to acquire from her.
"You did what you could for that woman," Inuyasha said, breaking her from the sad thoughts. "And she was obviously grateful for whatever help you could give her."
Kagome turned her head to the side to look at him. "You think so?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "Yeah. And...I think that's what you should focus on. What you can do and what you did learn, not what you can't and didn't."
Kagome smiled and looked back up at the night sky. "You're right. Thanks, Inuyasha. Sorry I got...mopey."
He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again.
"My mom taught me how to paint," he began. "We would go outside with paper and paints and just...paint everything we saw around us. The sky, trees, grass...anything. Then we would paint each other. She was halfway through painting a portrait of me before she died. It was still in her quarters back home when I left, but my brother might have gotten rid of it by now."
He turned his head to the side and Kagome did the same, allowing their eyes to meet.
"So...I get it," he said. "Feeling half-finished, I guess."
Kagome hummed. "Yeah...but it's nice to have a friend who gets it."
Inuyasha turned his eyes back to the sky. "Yeah. If you can't get mopey with a friend, who else can you get mopey with?"
Kagome smiled. "I guess you're right. So...is this your way of admitting we're friends now? You might as well accept it at this point."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Fine, woman. We're friends."
Her smile grew a bit, but she didn't tease him again, knowing this was something big for him, regardless of how small it might seem to someone looking in from the outside.
Kagome looked up at the sky and welcomed the privilege of a baby step in crossing the bridge between them, despite the fact that she knew the bridge stretched on quite a bit further.
But a baby step was still a step, just as him using her name had been, so she would be patient.
For now, they were friends.
To be continued...