Note: "-----" indicates scene/place switching.
Akushisu
Chapter the
Second - Confessions
"Do you think Miroku will be okay?" asked Kagome.
"Yeah, probably." Inuyasha was absently starring at Kagome's pale-skinned face. Absolutely perfect. So pretty.
"We shouldn't have gone ahead without them!" said Kagome.
"Sango will take care of him." Inuyasha didn't blink, not wanting to miss any move she made.
-----
"Miroku?" Sango asked when she pulled back.
"Yes, Goddess Sango?" said Miroku.
"Do you love me?" It was such a simple question, yet it had so much meaning. Sango lifted her hand to untie his hair. She wondered what he looked like with it down.
"With my whole heart, soul, and mind."
Sango smiled. "With all my heart. I'll love you forever, Miroku..."
"Sango ..," he said.
Sango's smile met her eyes as she grinned. He slid the little tie off his hair and let it fall around his face.
"How do I look?" he as with a small laugh.
"Perfect, as usual," she said as she smiled. "So lovely... So mine..."
"May I?" he gestured to her lap.
Sango smiled and nodded. "You may."
He put his head in her lap and fell asleep.
Sango smiled and brushed some of his now-loose hair off his soft face.
-----
"Inuyasha, you saw Miroku's wound. What kind of a demon could do that much damage?" Kagome asked.
"Either a really big one or a really small one." Inuyasha shrugged. "I can't be for sure."
"Inuyasha, I'm so worried," she grabbed his shirt and buried her face in his chest.
"K-Kagome? Shh, it's alright, don't cry." Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her in a protective manner.
"I feel like it's all my fault."
"Why, Kagome? It's not your fault! You weren't even there!"
"But I was the one that offered to go on ahead of them!" she said.
"Kagome! There's nothing you could have done! It would've happened even if you stayed!"
"Yes, but you and I could have prevented it!" She grabbed Inuyasha closer.
"Kagome, please don't do this! There's no point crying over spilled ramen!"
"I can't help it. I feel so guilty," she looked up at him.
"Kagome. Don't feel guilty! Miroku's alive and... er... well."
"What?" she asked.
"Huh? I said he's alive and well." 'Well... maybe not well, well, but he's alive at least.' Inuyasha thought.
"Well what?" she whispered.
"Well as in doing okay, not as in I'm going to continue my sentence."
"Oh. Inuyasha...thanks," she said.
"For what?" Inuyasha looked down at her.
"Making me feel better," she kissed him on the cheek.
Inuyasha blushed slightly. "You're welcome Kagome."
"Inuyasha, why is your face all red?" Shippo asked.
"Ano...Heat?"
"Oh, we should take you inside," said Kagome.
Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah...Inside..."
Secretly, Kagome didn't believe it was really the heat, but she wasn't going to pick on him.
Kagome laid down on the floor.
Inuyasha sat down next to her, the blush slowly fading as he looked at the wall.
"May I? Would you mind?" Kagome asked patting his lap.
Inuyasha shrugged and nodded. "I don't care."
She put her head on his lap.
Inuyasha blushed again but looked down at her and smiled.
"You smell nice too," she whispered.
"Thanks." Inuyasha knew she was saying what he had said that one night what seemed like ages ago.
Kagome smiled. "I know you remember."
"I know," he touched her cheek lightly with the tips of his fingers.
Kagome was blushing. How did Inuyasha feel about her? He was being nicer than usual.
His finger ran down her cheek across her jaw bone to her lips. So soft under his gentle touch.
"Inuyasha," she whispered, her heart was beating faster and faster.
Inuyasha slowly moved the tip of his claw over her bottom lip, not even hearing her speak his name.
"I-I-Inuyasha," she repeated. She never felt like this before; something stirred deep inside her.
Inuyasha continued to ignore her, deep inside his own mind. 'So close...yet so far away...' he thought to himself. How he wanted to replace his finger with his own lips. He continued to run his finger on and around her lips.
Kagome put her hand on his.
Inuyasha stopped his little tracing game. "S-sorry..."
"Don't be. It was nice," she said a bit embarrassed.
Inuyasha smiled. "Oh...well, then you're welcome."
Kagome just wanted to hear Inuyasha talk. He had a nice voice one you got past the gruffness.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, not noticing he had started to run a soft finger over the delicate features of her face again.
"Yes, Inuyasha?"
"What do you think about at night? You, know, on those nights where you can't seem to sleep?"
"Sometimes my family, sometimes Miroku and Sango, and yes I think of you too," she said, it was true what she said but she was usually thinking about Inuyasha most of the time, which she conveniently left out.
Inuyasha smiled and let out a relaxed sigh.
"What do you think about?"
"Life. Death. You and me..." Inuyasha's eyes gazed at her, but also followed his finger, which was finding its way around Kagome's face and neck.
Kagome's eyes filled with tears.
"Kagome? What's wrong? I didn't make you cry, did I?"
"No, I don't know why I'm crying."
Inuyasha brushed away the tears that fell from her eyes with a loving touch.
Kagome sat up, looking in his eyes.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha didn't blink his eyes as she looked into his.
Kagome put her hand on his cheek.
Inuyasha felt her hand; it felt so warm and soft. He slowly leaned into her touch, nuzzling her hand with his cheek.
Her other hand lifted his chin.
Kagome..." Inuyasha softly closed his eyes, and then opened again to see if this was real.
"Inu...yasha…"
Inuyasha's hand slowly rose up to meet the one on his cheek. He clasped it in his and let their fingers intertwine.
Kagome leaned in closer.
They were so close... Inuyasha leaned closer as well and caught her lips with his in a soft kiss.
That night they feel asleep in each other arms, loving the warm embrace of their love.
