Chapter 4 – Gift Number One
'She's going to think it's stupid!'
'No she's not. She going to think it was sweet of you. Just tell her it's an early birthday present since she's going to be twenty soon.'
Inuyasha was nervous to say the least. He had everything planned out, right down to what he was going to say. That was until he actually found Kagome by her scent in Kaede's hut. He had officially turned into a nervous puddle. He just couldn't bring himself into walking in.
'Come on you know she's going to like it. Just suck it up and do it!'
"Keh! Easy for you to say. You're not the one out here," replied Inuyasha to himself in a quiet tone.
"Inuyasha? Is that you out there?" came Kagome's voice from inside the hut.
'Fuck! I have no choice now! Baka! Why'd you have to talk out loud!' Inuyasha didn't know what to do. He just didn't understand it. He could fight off thousands of demons and come home with maybe one scratch, but to give a simple gift to Kagome was killing him! Without a seconds thought, Inuyasha turned around and took off towards the well and the Goshinboki Tree, just as Kagome was emerging from the hut.
'That's weird. I could've sworn I heard Inuyasha's voice.' Kagome looked all around from the place she stood, but couldn't see Inuyasha anywhere.
Just as Kagome was going to go and find Inuyasha, Sango emerged from the hut almost running into Kagome. "Kagome, what are you doing out here? I thought you would have gone off with Inuyasha?"
"I was just going to go look for him because he wasn't here when I came out. Maybe I was hearing things in there'" said Kagome while pointing towards the hut.
Sango just smiled at her friend, who has become more of a sister than a friend to her. "Well then I guess we're both going crazy because I heard his voice too."
Kagome just smiled back at Sango. "I'm going to go find Inuyasha and see what's up. I'll see you later Sango," she said while walking off to Inuyasha's favourite spot.
Goshinboki Tree
'Fucking coward! You can't even give Kagome a simple gift!'
'Would you shut up already? I'm going to give it to her just give me some time!'
It has been an ongoing battle between Inuyasha and himself. He knew Kagome came out of the hut to look for him, but he just couldn't give her the gift with everyone around. He felt stupid and weak and if the monk found him doing that, he would have never heard the end of it.
"Inuyasha? Are you here?" came Kagome's voice from the beginning of the clearing.
"Kagome," came Inuyasha's quiet, but startled response. 'Come on you can do this. Just jump down like you always do and talk to Kagome. You've done this many times before.'
'Keh! I've never given her a present before though.'
"Inuyasha?"
"Huh? Oh, umm hi Kagome," was Inuyasha's stuttered response.
"Is something the matter? You haven't been to the hut or to the village for that matter, since we've come back. Did I…umm…did I do something wrong to make you mad?"
'Damn! I hate when that monk's right!' "Keh! No. Stupid wench, you don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh. Umm okay then. Umm I'm going to go back then."
"Wait," said Inuyasha while jumping down to meet Kagome on the ground. "Umm…I, uhh, wanted to gi…give you some…something," stuttered Inuyasha.
Kagome had a thoroughly surprised look on her face. 'What's with him? He never gives me presents.' "Umm, okay. Do you think I can see my present?" Kagome was confused about it all, but the thought of Inuyasha giving her a present was exciting all the same.
"Well…umm…it's not something you can really keep, but I know it's something you've always wanted to do," said Inuyasha while twitching his ears to see if Kagome got the idea.
"Okay, so what is it that I've always wanted to do?"
Inuyasha couldn't believe she was going to make him say it. He twitched his ears for her for Kami's sake! What else does she need? "Well, I know you've tried to umm rub my ears a couple of times, so I'm going to let you now, but not ever again," he said while a blush slowly crept to his cheeks.
Kagome's eyes widen. Inuyasha was going to let her rub his ears. She was so excited! When she had first rubbed his ears, almost five years ago when he was pinned to Goshinbuko they were soft, but they just looked a lot softer now. "Really? You're going to let me? Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Inuyasha could only smile. He had made Kagome happy again. He picked her up and jumped up on to his favourite branch with Kagome sitting behind him. "If anyone sees you doing this, I'm going to kill that monk," said Inuyasha in a harsh whisper.
"Huh? Did you say something Inuyasha?" asked Kagome whom was getting comfortable upon the branch.
Inuyasha just shook his head while laying back onto Kagome's legs. "Just make it quick."
Kagome just smiled at the twitching appendages. She was going to enjoy this. She slow reached out with both hands and gently started to rub his furry ears. 'Oh they're even softer than before!' squealed Kagome in her mind.
Something just occurred to Kagome. "Hey, Inuyasha?"
"Hmm?" was the only response she got from Inuyasha whose eyes had closed. To be truthful, Inuyasha was probably enjoying himself as much as Kagome was. Her fingers were so gentle that it was like the wind blowing softly. He could get use to this.
"Why are you letting me do this?" asked Kagome. "I know you said that it was a gift, but you've never given me a gift before."
"It's an early birthday present."
"Oh. So why'd you give it to me early?"
'Damn! Why does she have to ask so many questions?'
'Just tell her the truth then baka. That there are other presents coming. Just don't tell her what they're really for until the last one.'
"Because it's only the start of your present," said Inuyasha while opening his eyes and tilting his head back to look at Kagome. "Your birthday is in two weeks right?"
"Yeah," Kagome was now thoroughly confused as to what was going on.
"So there are two presents left for me to give you. You'll get one in a week and the last one on your birthday. So don't ask anymore questions." With that said Inuyasha rested his head comfortably on Kagome's lap again and closed his eyes.