This chapter is named after the song "We Used to Wait" by Arcade Fire.
I'm very excited for this one. Heh heh.
Chapter 10: We Used to Wait
Inuyasha woke up to a light patting on his cheeks and the quiet murmurs of Kagome's voice.
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha...Inuya-"
The hanyo opened his eyes and covered her mouth with his hand.
"I'm trying to sleep, woman," he grumbled.
Kagome's eyes were bright with amusement, and just as he suspected, the smile on her face was just as bright when he moved his hand away from her mouth.
"Good morning," she said.
Inuyasha couldn't help but smile back at her.
"What are you so eager about?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him.
"We're going to see the sage today," she reminded him. "I'm excited to hopefully get some answers."
Inuyasha was grateful her head was against his neck; she wouldn't be able to see his concern.
If we get rid of the jewel before finding Naraku, there will be no way to try and get him to come out of hiding...but what do I do? I can't just say no to finding the sage.
He closed his eyes, a wave of dread encroaching on his gut.
o.O.o
Kagome tugged on Inuyasha's hand, gently trying to encourage him to hurry.
"Slow down, woman," Inuyasha chided, squeezing her hand as they walked. Kagome smiled and ignored him.
"We've been waiting for three days," she pointed out. "I'm antsy."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "It's been a nice three days, though."
Kagome's eyes softened. "Yeah...really nice." She leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked.
As they got closer to the sage's home, Inuyasha frowned.
A familiar scent was coming from the house, one Inuyasha hadn't smelled in over a year.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha shook his head.
"Nothing," he replied. "Let's just go."
When they reached the house, Inuyasha's frown only deepened. He definitely recognized the scent coming from the house, but he had no idea why that scent, from him of all people, would be there.
Inuyasha knocked on the door and waited with Kagome at his side.
He didn't notice how tightly he'd started gripping her hand until she patted his arm.
"You're holding my hand too tight," she chided lightly. Inuyasha let go immediately.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "Are you okay?"
Kagome smiled and nodded. "Yes, but I feel like I should be asking you that question."
Before Inuyasha could reply, the door opened to reveal a man in his mid-twenties, his hair pulled back in a short ponytail, and an earring adorning one of his ears.
Inuyasha's nose hadn't lied. It was him.
Miroku.
A dozen memories flooded Inuyasha's mind as the sight of Miroku caused a wave of emotion to overcome him. He tampered it down, not wanting to show how affected he was by Miroku's sudden appearance, but the years they spent traveling together and how easily Miroku left him hit Inuyasha head-on all over again.
Miroku's eyes widened when he saw the hanyo.
"Inuyasha?" Miroku said incredulously. "What...what are you doing here?"
Inuyasha glared at him, taking in the unfamiliar monk robes he was wearing.
"I should ask you the same question," he replied harshly.
Miroku frowned. "Inuyasha, don't be-" He cut himself off when he noticed Kagome.
"Oh, hello," he greeted. "I apologize for my rudeness."
Kagome smiled and nodded in greeting. "That's okay. I'm Kagome."
Miroku smiled. "My name is Miroku."
Inuyasha glanced at Kagome and he could tell that she recognized the name.
She looked at Inuyasha, realization dawning on her. For one of the first times, Inuyasha was grateful that she could read him so well.
"It's nice to meet you," she said simply.
Miroku nodded at her before turning back to Inuyasha. "Not to sound rude, but what are you doing here?"
Inuyasha paused, caught off-guard at the sudden presence of Miroku.
"We caught word of a sage who could help us with something," Kagome said. "I'm assuming you're not actually a sage, though?"
Miroku half-smiled. "My spiritual power is stronger than most. People often mistake me for a sage, but I'm a monk."
"Okay, monk," Inuyasha sneered. "When did that happen?"
"Miroku?" a feminine voice called. "Is everything okay?"
Inuyasha glanced into the house behind Miroku and saw the woman he married. The hanyo had never properly met her, but he recalled her scent from back when Miroku had first started spending time with her, sneaking off at different parts of the day only to come back covered in it.
He also remembered her face, thinking back to the guilty expression he'd seen on it when he saw her waiting at a distance for Miroku when he'd finally left Inuyasha.
The memory hit him hard, the pain of Miroku's departure washing over him all over again like it had just happened the day before.
He wanted to leave.
Miroku's wife's eyes widened. "Inuyasha, is that you?"
He wasn't surprised she remembered what he looked like despite only seeing each other once before. The look he'd given her...he occasionally almost felt guilty about it.
"Who else would it be?" Inuyasha shot back, tamping down the memories.
"Now there's no need to be rude to her," Miroku warned. His wife set a hand on his arm.
"It's okay," she assured him. "I'm not offended. Invite him in, Miroku. I just put on a kettle for tea."
Miroku reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Inuyasha and Kagome to enter the home.
"Hi," Miroku's wife greeted Kagome. "I'm Sango. Are you traveling with Inuyasha?"
Sango, Inuyasha recalled. Right, that's her name.
Kagome nodded. "I am. My name is Kagome."
"It's lovely to meet you," Sango replied. "Come sit down, you two."
Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, obviously checking in on him. He grimaced before he felt her set a comforting hand on his back, giving him a soft caress and encouraging smile before letting go to follow Sango into a small sitting room.
Once they were all seated, Sango smiled.
"So what brings you here?" she asked. "This is certainly...unexpected."
Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, waiting for him to answer. When he didn't, choosing instead to sit with an annoyed look on his face, she turned to Sango and took over.
"We're on a mission of sorts," Kagome explained. "We're trying to find someone to help me purify something and we heard that Miroku might be able to help."
Miroku raised an eyebrow. "A mission to purify something?" he repeated. He looked at Inuyasha. "Are you not still—"
"Things changed," Inuyasha said quickly, interrupting Miroku before he could say anything about Naraku. Miroku frowned.
Before he could ask anything else, the tea kettle began to whistle from the other room.
Sango stood up to get it, obviously noting the tension.
"Kagome," she said kindly, "would you like to help me with the tea?"
Kagome nodded and patted Inuyasha's hand comfortingly before she got up and followed Sango to the kitchen.
When Inuyasha and Miroku were alone, Miroku turned to the hanyo.
"So," he began, "care to explain...everything?"
Inuyasha grimaced. "It's a long story. How about you explain things first? Why are you a monk now?"
Miroku hesitated. "Actually, I've always been a monk."
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "What? Why wouldn't you have told me?"
Miroku shrugged. "I didn't want to make you uneasy while we were traveling together. Remember how I said I wanted to find Naraku because he killed my father?"
At Inuyasha's nod, Miroku's eyes saddened. "It wasn't just my father. He wiped out my entire monastery."
Inuyasha's jaw dropped. "What?" Miroku nodded.
"When we crossed paths," he began, "and you were just as desperate to find him and end him, I figured hiding my spiritual powers would help get you to trust me a bit easier." A smile appeared on his face. "Although, I can tell Kagome is a miko. It doesn't seem like you're opposed to people with spiritual powers after all."
Inuyasha frowned. "Kagome is different."
The barest hint of a grin came to Miroku's face.
"Uh-huh. Are you two...you know…?"
The hanyo's brow furrowed. "What?" his tone leaked with irritation, obviously warning Miroku to not press him too much.
But it was Miroku, who much to Inuyasha's dismay, still seemed to know him inside and out.
"You've fallen in love," Miroku said plainly. "I've never seen you like this but it's written all over your face."
"It's none of your business," Inuyasha shot back. "And unlike you, I'm not going to give up on my goal in life because of something like that."
Miroku's smile disappeared. "Inuyasha, I apologized for all that. Besides, you aren't even looking for Naraku anymore. It sounds like your goal has changed just like mine did."
Inuyasha paused, wondering if he should tell Miroku about his secret plan.
"That's not...quite true," he admitted. "But Kagome doesn't know about my connection to Naraku."
"Why not?" Miroku asked.
Saying it out loud to someone else will only make it worse...I can't.
"It's complicated," Inuyasha continued. "It's just...better this way, so don't tell her about it. And don't...don't tell her that we used to search for Naraku together. I don't want her to know anything about it. Please."
Miroku nodded. "I don't blame you. I haven't told Sango much about when you and I were searching for Naraku, either. She wouldn't recognize the name if she heard it."
Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief. "So you don't think she'll bring anything up to Kagome?"
Miroku shook his head. "No."
At least that's a bit of a relief…
"So what are you doing about Naraku now?" Miroku asked. "You and Kagome were looking for a sage for something other than you finding his whereabouts?"
Inuyasha huffed. "I'm still going to find Naraku. Kagome just doesn't know that. Have you heard anything about where he is?"
Miroku paused. "Why do I feel like you're going to do something stupid?"
Inuyasha glared at him. "Not as stupid as what you did." Miroku shook his head.
"You're in just as deep with Kagome as I am with Sango," he replied. "I can tell, so don't try to act like you're above me with this."
"That's not what we're talking about," Inuyasha retorted. "Do you know anything or not? The sooner I find Naraku, the sooner I can save Kagome from him. I know it doesn't make sense, but before we do anything else...even before getting rid of the jewel she has...I need to kill Naraku."
"What do you mean?" Miroku asked. "Is he after Kagome?" Inuyasha nodded.
"That's why I'm trying to find him," he replied. "To kill him so she doesn't have to worry about him anymore. It's gone beyond just my revenge and yours...it's for Kagome now, too."
Miroku frowned. "But how do you plan on destroying Naraku when you find him? With your claws? A few of Kagome's arrows?"
Inuyasha's mind went straight to Tessaiga.
"My sword transformed," he mumbled. "So...I'll use that."
I just have to figure out how to make it transform again. We'll see how that goes.
"Really?" Miroku asked incredulously. "How did that happen?"
"Uh, it's a long story," Inuyasha replied. He definitely was not going to tell Miroku about that. "Anyway...do you know anything about where Naraku might be?"
Miroku sighed. "I still keep an ear out when I can. I've heard about a few attacks that have happened recently. The way they've been described, the vicious manner of murder...there's no way it isn't Naraku.
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Where did this happen?"
"Near Wakayama," Miroku replied.
"Wakayama?" Inuyasha repeated. "Damn it...we'll just be backtracking!"
"You wanted an answer and I gave you one," Miroku said simply. "So calm down."
Inuyasha nearly yelled at him but the sound of Sango and Kagome's footsteps stopped him.
"We brought the tea," Sango announced. Kagome smiled at Inuyasha and sat down at his side, handing the cup of tea to him.
He thanked her quietly before glaring into his cup.
"Thank you for having us," Kagome began, breaking the somewhat awkward silence. "Despite how...unexpected our visit is." Sango smiled.
"It's no trouble," she replied. "I've heard many stories about Inuyasha, so I'm happy to finally meet him. He's very brave."
Inuyasha blushed at the praise, especially since it was coming from Miroku's wife of all people.
"I agree," Kagome replied.
Inuyasha's blush increased, but for a much different reason.
"So, Miroku," Kagome began, "would you mind if I asked you a few questions? I'm hopeful you can help us."
"I'll help if I can," he replied. "Ask away."
Kagome briefly explained her situation with Naraku and how he was after her in search of the jewel she possessed.
"So do you know of a way I could get rid of it?" she asked. "I purify it often, but I've never been able to purify it out of existence."
Miroku went to answer her, but he caught Inuyasha's gaze.
The monk paused before speaking.
"I can't help you," he finally said. "I'm so sorry."
Kagome deflated. "Oh. I see. Well, it's okay. It was a longshot."
Miroku spared another glance at Inuyasha. "But...I do know of someone who can help you."
Kagome brightened again. "Really? Where can we find this person?"
"South a ways," Miroku replied. Inuyasha's eyes widened.
Is he going to…?
"In Wakayama," he continued. "I know another monk there who I think can help you more than I can. I cannot say that I have ever dealt with purifying something out of existence, but perhaps he has."
Kagome smiled widely. "Thank you!" She took Inuyasha's hand and squeezed. "Oh, this is wonderful. Thank you so much, Miroku."
"Of course," Miroku replied. Inuyasha was shocked.
Miroku listened to me when I said destroying Naraku needs to come first...he trusted me when I said that I can't find Naraku if Kagome doesn't have what he wants.
Maybe the friend he once had in Miroku...wasn't completely gone.
Inuyasha sent a grateful look toward Miroku. Miroku looked away, and Inuyasha could see the hint of guilt in his eyes.
Miroku was good about lying when it came to his fake clairvoyance, but with people...he'd never been keen on that.
Speaking of said clairvoyance…
Kagome tattled on him.
"So, Miroku, it seems like your 'skill' rubbed off on Inuyasha."
Inuyasha's attention snapped to Kagome and he frowned.
Miroku burst out laughing. "Don't tell me he tells fortunes for quick money!"
Kagome nodded. "Yep. He says he learned it from you."
"Kagome!" Inuyasha growled.
And here I thought she loved me.
But then he saw her amused smile, and his anger dissipated.
Because how could he stay annoyed when she smiled at him like that?
Inuyasha's ears twitched when he heard a noise from another room in the house.
"Sounds like the babies are awake," Sango announced as she stood up. "I'll be right back."
Inuyasha gaped at Miroku. "Babies? Plural?"
Miroku smiled. "We had twins about two months ago." He stood up from the table. "I'm going to help Sango. We'll bring them out to say hello in a few minutes."
When Inuyasha and Kagome were alone, the hanyo took a deep breath.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome said gently, taking his hand. "Are you alright?"
Inuyasha half-shrugged. "I'm just...overwhelmed, I guess. I never expected to see Miroku again, and yet here I am about to meet his kids."
Kagome gently stroked the back of his hand with her thumb.
"I'm sorry," she replied. "Can I do anything to help?"
Inuyasha looked at her, meeting her gaze.
He couldn't help but smile.
"You're here," he murmured. "That's all I need." He leaned forward and kissed her, quickly but no less of a passionate kiss than they'd grown accustomed to sharing.
A moment after they pulled away, Miroku and Sango returned, each with a baby in their arms.
"They're so cute!" Kagome squealed quietly when the married couple sat back down. "What are their names?"
"This is Yua," Sango said.
"And this is Ichika," Miroku added.
"They're beautiful," Kagome cooed.
Inuyasha gazed at the babies, finding that they were the perfect mix of Miroku and Sango.
It had him wondering what a few different children would look like…
Blue eyes and silver hair, or golden eyes and black hair…
He tried to shake himself from that mindset. It was way too soon for that.
He pretty much avoided making eye contact with Miroku for the rest of the afternoon. He focused instead on Kagome's look of delight while she admired the babies, and eventually when Sango passed Yua over to her.
Kagome and Sango were the ones who spoke the most during their time at the house, and Inuyasha wondered how long it had been since Kagome had been able to have another woman as a friend.
She was alone before Inuyasha met her and had been traveling with just him for the last nearly two-and-a-half months. Inuyasha wondered if that bothered her at all.
When the twins became fussy later on in the evening, Inuyasha and Kagome took their leave.
"Thank you for having us," Kagome said as she hugged Sango and then hugged Miroku.
"I appreciate your help so much, Miroku. You have no idea how relieved I am."
Miroku met Inuyasha's gaze over Kagome's shoulder and frowned.
Inuyasha just looked away.
The hanyo tolerated a hug from Sango before nodding at Miroku.
As they left, Miroku set a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, making him pause from where he was following Kagome out.
Miroku nodded at Sango to continue walking Kagome to the door while he lingered with Inuyasha.
"Do you understand now?" Miroku asked. "Why I left?"
Inuyasha couldn't lie.
"Yeah," he admitted. "I do."
"That doesn't make me any less sorry," Miroku added sincerely. "I'm so sorry, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha nodded. "S'alright." He glanced at the front door. "Uh, so it seems like Kagome and Sango really got along well."
Miroku smiled. "I would say so. Perhaps you two could come visit again sometime." Inuyasha shrugged.
"Sure...I guess."
Miroku's smile faded a bit. "But don't make me regret lying for you. I'll trust your instincts, but something about this feels risky."
Inuyasha shook his head. "It'll be fine. We'll get going now."
He finally walked over to join Kagome at the door, taking her hand as they left.
Kagome called a few final goodbyes over her shoulder before she and Inuyasha began to make their way back to the inn.
Kagome smiled at him and lightly squeezed his fingers, wrapping her free hand around his arm as they walked.
"That was so fun," she chirped. "Sango is so great." She rubbed her hand up and down Inuyasha's arm.
"Did you have an okay time?" she asked. "Or was it too much?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "It was fine. I'm glad you had fun."
Kagome hummed in agreement. "And Miroku was able to help. I'm so relieved. Hopefully the monk he mentioned can help us."
Inuyasha grimaced. "Yeah. So what do you want for dinner? Do you want to find a tavern?"
Kagome nodded. "That sounds good."
Inuyasha breathed a silent sigh.
One step closer.
O.o.O.o.O
Later that night, Kagome was curled up against Inuyasha in their bed at the inn.
She was absolutely stuffed with food; they'd eaten a big dinner in celebration, but it had been a bit more than she could handle. Inuyasha had laughed at her the whole time they were walking back to the inn as she gripped her aching stomach.
As they lay down in the bed, she was on her back as Inuyasha rubbed his hand over her stomach, trying to help soothe the bellyache she was still experiencing.
"You're too good to me," Kagome murmured, turning her head to smile at him. Inuyasha chuckled and leaned up to kiss her.
When he pulled away, he lay his head against Kagome's shoulder, never ceasing his gentle rub of her stomach.
"Would you...want to go see Sango and the twins again at some point?" Inuyasha asked. "Because if you want to, then we can."
"Really?" Kagome asked. "That wouldn't bother you or anything?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "It must get boring to travel with just me. I figured getting to spend time with another woman might make you happy."
How does he manage to get cuter by the day?
"Aw," Kagome gushed, gently patting his cheek. "I'm really happy now, though. I would love to see Sango again, but I'm more than content just traveling with you. How could I not be?"
She smiled, hoping she could put his mind at ease.
"But it would still be nice to visit," she admitted. "If it's not too hard for you with Miroku." Inuyasha shook his head.
"It'll be fine," he replied. "I just want you to be happy."
"Hey," Kagome said, nudging him to look up at her. "I just told you, silly. I'm very happy. I'm so happy. And once the jewel is gone, I know things will only get better." She smiled and kissed him gently.
Inuyasha wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against him.
Kagome pulled away a moment later when he jostled her aching stomach a bit too hard.
Inuyasha chuckled. "Does your stomach still hurt?"
Wincing, Kagome nodded. Inuyasha smiled and kissed her a final time before resuming his motions on her stomach.
Kagome reached her hand up to gently stroke his ears in the way she knew he loved as her thoughts drifted to the conversation she'd had with Sango while they'd been preparing the tea in her kitchen earlier...
"I figured they might need a few moments alone," Sango had whispered when she and Kagome went to get the tea. "It's been awhile since they've seen each other and Miroku told me they didn't exactly part ways amicably."
Kagome hummed. "Yeah, Inuyasha hasn't mentioned a whole lot about it, but it's never been...good things."
Sango grimaced as she pulled the kettle off the burner. "It's mostly my fault. If I hadn't met Miroku, they would probably still be traveling together."
"I don't think you should blame yourself," Kagome soothed. "It's not like you can help when or how you fall in love."
Sango smiled. "Sounds like you know from experience." Kagome blushed.
"Uh, well…"
Sango laughed at her embarrassment. "I'm glad Inuyasha has you. I've never actually met him, aside from seeing him one time before...Miroku and I left, but Miroku always described him as...withdrawn. He said he was nice and obviously a good guy, but not overly so. Miroku said he was always a bit stoic."
Sango smiled. "But with you, Kagome, when he looks at you, I don't see any trace of that. I can hardly believe he could've ever been described as that."
Kagome laughed. "Oh, believe me. He used to be that way. When we first met, he was more than a little standoffish and I could barely get a word out of him. If I actually did, it was either a complaint or an insult." She smiled. "But we've been traveling together for a while and things have changed. I'm really glad they did."
"You'll have to invite us to the wedding when you have it," Sango said casually as she poured the tea. Kagome blushed.
"It's way too soon to think about that," Kagome countered. Sango shrugged.
"Miroku and I got married a month after we met," Sango explained. "When you know, you know."
She's right...and I think I do know. That might be a nice thought to maybe revisit another day.
Kagome smiled. "That's nice. I'm glad you guys are so happy."
"We really are," Sango agreed. "And I'm glad you two are here, even though it was a bit of a surprise. Inuyasha has always been a...taboo topic. Miroku didn't talk much about him, but I can tell he's always missed him. I hope they can bury the hatchet while you two are here."
Kagome nodded her agreement. "So do I."
"So how did you two meet?" Sango asked. Kagome laughed.
"That's quite a story," she replied. She gave Sango a very brief, very short explanation on what had transpired with herself and Inuyasha during their time together.
"That sounds...a little crazy," Sango commented. "But also very sweet. You two are a lovely couple." Kagome blushed.
"Thanks," she replied. "So are you and Miroku."
They soon realized that they'd been talking longer than they'd thought, so they quickly got the teacups and brought them out to the sitting area.
Inuyasha had seemed a little off when they'd returned; Kagome figured he was just a little overwhelmed by what was going on.
Once he saw her, he seemed to relax, so she sat as close to him as propriety would allow and handed him his cup.
The rest of the afternoon had been pleasant until after they'd left the tavern they'd chosen for dinner, when Kagome's stomach felt like it was going to burst from how much she'd eaten.
But all in all...it was a day she knew she'd always remember and always treasure.
She was still a bit curious, though, to have the rest of the pieces of Inuyasha's friendship with Miroku filled in.
"So, Inuyasha," she began.
"Yeah?"
Kagome paused. "How did you and Miroku meet?"
Inuyasha was quiet for a moment. "Our paths crossed a few years ago and we hit it off right away." He paused. "So...we decided to start traveling together. He was a good friend for a while."
"You two got along that quickly?" Kagome asked, recalling how brusque and closed off Inuyasha had been when they met.
"Um," Inuyasha began sheepishly, "I was a bit...nicer back then. Not much, but...a bit."
Kagome closed her eyes and felt a small pain in her heart for him.
He was in pain from losing his parents...and then being left by Miroku deeply hurt him, too. It's so sad…
She remembered Sango's words and how Miroku had described Inuyasha. Nice, but a bit stoic and withdrawn. What Inuyasha was saying now proved that her words were true.
Not as cold as he'd been with her in the beginning, though. That had all come from so much pain from the betrayal of a friend on top of the loss of his parents, and she wanted nothing more than to remind him that she was with him, that she would always be with him, every single day for the rest of their lives.
"Sango said you seemed less...cold today than the one time she saw you," Kagome said. "So you're pretty nice now, it seems."
Inuyasha moved his hand from her stomach so he could carefully wrap his arm around her. "That's because I have someone who thawed me out." Kagome smiled.
"And what a big job that was," she teased. Inuyasha chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah," he said. "Cheeky woman."
Kagome laughed.
She soon grew serious, realizing that how open he was with her now and how affectionate he was had been a big step, especially in everything that had happened between them. There were no more baby steps, like when he'd finally acknowledged that they were friends.
She was so proud of him.
Kagome sighed happily and kissed Inuyasha's forehead. "I really am happy you're with me. I can't imagine being with anyone else."
Inuyasha moved his hand to her cheek to gently stroke it.
"Same here," he said quietly.
As they lay there, Kagome took a deep, relieved breath. She was optimistic about the other monk after the disappointment of Miroku not being able to help. But she was patient. She could wait however long it took as long as the jewel could be eradicated.
After the jewel was gone, she could do whatever she wanted. She'd never really allowed herself to think about a future in which she could do what she wanted, but that was going to change.
After the jewel was gone, her future would finally belong to her.
And she wanted nothing more than to share that future with Inuyasha.
Because she hoped he would be a very big part of it.
"Can I ask you something else?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha nodded against her. "Of course."
"The jewel will hopefully be gone soon," Kagome began, "so I won't have to be on the run anymore. I was just thinking about...the future."
Inuyasha was silent for a moment.
"That wasn't a question," he finally replied.
Kagome laughed. "Let me rephrase that...um, will you stay with me after the jewel is gone? We could figure out what to do next...together?"
Inuyasha nodded against her.
"I thought that was a given," he murmured. "I always want us to be together."
Kagome smiled. "So do I." She paused for a moment before her smile morphed into a grin. "Does this mean you don't think I'm annoying anymore?"
Inuyasha chuckled and rolled his eyes. "I don't know, woman. I haven't made my mind up on that one yet."
Kagome laughed. "Stupid." Inuyasha brushed his nose with hers before pressing a quick kiss to it.
"Do you still think I'm mean?" he teased. Kagome shrugged.
"Just a bit," she replied. At Inuyasha's frown, she laughed again. "You wouldn't be you without a little bit of sass. But now it's...endearing."
O.o.O.o.O
Kagome's smile was bright and her eyes were shining with amusement, but Inuyasha hung on that little word.
Endearing.
He'd started to feel embarrassed, if he were being honest with himself, about how vulnerable he'd been with Kagome and how affectionate he was. She reciprocated everything, but the dam of his pent up emotions that he'd unleashed seemed like it would never stop releasing every single feeling he had for her.
And now, after hearing her tell him such soothing and assuring words, he couldn't even remember how it felt to be embarrassed.
"I wish I had more words," he blurted. "To describe how much you mean to me. I don't think I could ever do it properly."
Kagome's eyes softened. "I think you already do a great job of it. And the way you show me is perfect."
Inuyasha reached his hand up and set it on her cheek. "Can I... show you now?"
Kagome blushed and nodded.
He gently slid his hand down to her neck, brushing the hair away as he pressed a few kisses on the skin next to his fingers. He heard Kagome take a short intake of breath at his movements.
"Okay?" he asked softly.
Kagome nodded. "Very okay."
Inuyasha continued to kiss her neck as his hand slid down to her shoulder.
His lips followed, trailing the skin until he reached the fabric of her clothing. Keeping his eyes on hers in case she wanted him to stop, he slowly slid the sleeve of her yukata up until her arm was completely bare to him.
He slowly kissed down the length of her arm as his eyes finally drifted shut, taking his time in covering her skin with kisses. When he reached her wrist, he pulled her hand up so he could kiss each of her fingers.
Inuyasha let go of her hand to rest his fingers on her waist, gently molding his palm to her curves and pulling her closer to him.
His touches were firm but gentle. He felt one of Kagome's hands drift to his head, rubbing his ear again as Inuyasha continued his caresses of her body.
The last place he touched was the spot over her heart. He could feel it pounding under his palm as he looked up to meet her gaze.
Her eyes were already on him and full of affection as she gave him a small smile.
Inuyasha moved his hand to press a kiss to her heart, feeling the quickened beat under his lips as they lingered on her skin.
He looked up at her and took her hand, setting her palm against his chest right over his heart.
"This is yours," he murmured. "My heart...it's yours."
He slowly kissed his way up Kagome's neck, incorporating his fangs enough to have her gasping quietly, and then moved to kiss her lips, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
"And mine is yours," Kagome replied softly.
He buried his face in her hair as they curled up together again.
He could feel how intricately his heart was intertwined with hers, he could feel how tightly she somehow had him wrapped around her gentle finger, and he knew that nothing he could ever feel would feel as good as the way he felt when Kagome was in his arms.
"I never expected to wind up here," Kagome murmured. "When we first met...I never would have expected this to happen."
"Neither did I," Inuyasha replied against her hair.
"I guess that's serendipity, though," Kagome mused. "I was running from evil and wound up running right into love." Inuyasha laughed quietly.
"That was so lame."
Kagome grinned. "But you liked it."
Inuyasha sighed contentedly. "Maybe a little."
They fell into a silence that was only broken by Kagome's occasional yawns.
Inuyasha could feel when her breathing evened out as she fell asleep. He kept his arms wrapped around her, focusing on the feel of her in his arms.
Inuyasha closed his eyes, allowing the steady beat of her heart to lull him to sleep shortly after.
To be continued...
Plot twist! Did you guys see this coming? ;)