The Sun and Moon
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any related titles. Wanna cookie? I'd give you one, but I'm here and you're there. I'd better get focused or I can't write this chapter.
Chapter 10: Kaede's VillageKagome woke to light breaking across the cave's ceiling. She stared at it for a while before the shadows shifted and became shaped like a horse.
A horse! Our white horse, galloping away through the forest, riderless; InuYasha, smiling and falling, tumbling downhill with me in his arm; coming upon this cave I'm in and throwing out the snake demon; watching the sunset; wait, did it ever actually go down? I'm not so sure… I don't remember seeing it. Why?
Kagome stifled a small gasp as she remembered InuYasha kissing her then picking her up and kissing her again before taking her down and laying her on the blanket.
Kagome looked around and saw a red cloth on either side of her. She inhaled, and it smelled of that charming little scent of InuYasha. She looked up, and seeing his sleeping face, realized she was in the crevice of his arm, with her head on his shoulder. She turned slightly and snuggled into him, taking a deep breath before closing her eyes and letting it out with a sigh. She nuzzled herself deeper into his shoulder, one of her hands tight on his haori near his neck.
Breathing. InuYasha's breath. It was coming and going in an astonishingly soothing rhythm. Kagome pressed her ear against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. It was in accordance with his breathing, and seemed to be playing a magic little song. She listened for a long while, and then opened her eyes when the sun crossed over them. She lifted her head slowly and gazed upon InuYasha's sleeping face. The sunlight seemed to dance across his face, even though there was nothing to cast a shadow upon it.
Am I dreaming? Kagome reached up to touch his lips with her fingers. They were silky soft and somewhat cool. She began to trace over the rest of his face very gently, hardly believing that she had kissed him.
Well, just to make sure I did…She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his, on impulse. She was about to lay back down when a hand settled upon the back of her head and pressed her lips firmly against InuYasha's. Another hand was on her back, supporting her and holding her there. Kagome gave a startled squeal before realizing InuYasha was kissing her. She lost her surprise, and kissed him back.
Time didn't matter, which is why Kagome didn't know how long the kiss lasted. They both packed up without a word, thinking about the future, and if, when they got to civilization and their friends again, the other would let the relationship continue.
Soon enough, they were on the road, Kagome riding upon InuYasha's back to make up for the lost time that morning. InuYasha followed a winding, well-tread dirt path. When he topped the hill that Kaede's village was just beyond, he let Kagome get off and walk on her own. InuYasha brought up the sacred jewel shards as they approached the fields surrounding the village. Kagome pulled out the small bottle on her necklace, with seven jewel shards in it. They had collected them from demons across the country, and one had been just laying in a bush, a bird pair's treasure. She stared at the bottle until InuYasha playfully tried to steal it. Kagome laughed and pulled it away as she walked on. InuYasha spun around her, trying but not trying to get the bottle. He continued for a while, but stopped after Kagome put the bottle away.
He pretended to pant, then, when Kagome giggled at him seemingly reverting to a dog, he began to walk calmly next to her, pleased.
Villagers working in the fields muttered as they walked by, mostly greeting Kagome, and then turning and nodding to InuYasha. Kagome was a little embarrassed to be getting a little more respect than InuYasha, and glanced sideways to see how InuYasha felt. She saw his eyes, and they held her gaze, turning her glance into a stare. InuYasha was studying her. His eyes… they were so enthralling. Kagome realized that she was staring, and blushed, looking away. InuYasha smiled and looked down the road.
As they entered the village, Kagome expected InuYasha to go off to his tree on the village outskirts, but was surprised when he stayed directly by her side, as if she'd vanish. They walked to Kaede's hut, and no sooner had they come to the front of the door than Kaede walked up from the river behind them. She was carrying two pails of water on a stick over her shoulders, which InuYasha picked up without a word. He strode into the hut, gracefully brushing aside the door flap.
"Hi, Lady Kaede."
"Hello, child. To what do I owe this visit?" Kaede said when they were all peacefully seated around a small fire in Kaede's hut.
"Oh, nothing really, I just wanted to know about an herb I found on our way here. Is it edible?" Kagome pulled out an herb from her backpack, and showed it to Kaede, who set her now full kettle above the fire.
Lady Kaede launched off into a description of the herb and its properties. InuYasha sat against Kagome's back, eyes closed, his ears occasionally twitching to the conversation. Apparently, the herb made a wonderful tea that made the drinker's spirit's high (basically a weak liquor), or, if you followed some specific directions, it was supposed to have the effect of causing someone to fall irrevocably in love with the brewer. It was yet to be proven to work, however, so it just made a great tea. All who had tried to make the potion had their lover be loyal and loving for a week at most before the potion's effect wore off.
The kettle began whistling and Kaede pulled it off the fire. She put some herbs into each one, a slightly different combination into each cup. She explained to Kagome why she was doing so, and when the tea was ready, she passed it out. Kagome handed InuYasha his, and he sat back up, because Kagome had leaned forward to get her lesson and the tea. He took it, and began silently sipping it, now ignoring the conversation about medicinal herbs and such.
Twenty minutes later, InuYasha and Kagome left the hut, waving goodbye to Kaede.
"So long! I'll be back soon!" Kagome shouted as they left the village and disappeared into the forest. She turned toward the path, and her memory stirred. She'd walked this path… that was the day… when… what? InuYasha… he'd asked her to come alone with him. He had been recovering from Sesshoumaru's attacks. He had shoved her down the well, and taken the jewel half they had then. He'd --- hugged her, for the first time…
"Kagome!" Said an irritated voice to her right. She looked up, and nearly hit a tree, except for the hand that grabbed her shoulder and pulled her away. I can battle demons, I can find herbs, I can shoot a bow, but I can't avoid a tree! Kagome chastised herself as she walked on.
"InuYasha, thanks for that. What should I bring back besides food and money?"
"Extra ramen?" came the automatic, predictable answer.
Kagome was relieved that he was acting like himself a little again, but part of her missed the 'romantic' InuYasha.
They soon enough came to the clearing, and Kagome walked up to the well. So much had happened here; she'd first come to the feudal era, Yura's hair had followed InuYasha and her, InuYasha had tried to block it with a boulder, and shoved her in it, and stuffed it with a tree, pulled out that tree, where she'd hugged him, and so much more…
A sudden movement to her right startled her, and she stopped resting on the edge of the well. InuYasha was on her right, one leg on the edge, ready to jump.
"InuYasha, why are you following me everywhere? Like, staying so close to me all the time now? Not trying to be rude, I'm fine with it…" Kagome added.
"I'm not leaving you because I don't want to." InuYasha said matter-of-factly. He put his arm around her waist and jumped into the well.
Hey, another chapter finished! Sorry this one took so long, end-of-school exams. Anyways… should I write another chapter of this, or should I put it in the next book? I need reviews! Please please please! Or a beta reader 2. Any suggestions, constructive criticism? Ok, no flames. Thanks for not sending any, lovely readers!
