A/N: It's a real good thing I learned how to get around this particular glitch right now, or you guys wouldn't have chapters 5 or 6! But, as my friends call me, Captain Fanfiction shall never fail to get a chapter out on time! (Unless, of course, things besides glitches get in her way, but you know...)
Before you read this chapter, I'd like to say that I think a few of you will think that Inuyasha is a bit OOC in this chapter. I actually don't think so. I decided to get creative and explore a side of him rarely seen, but still there if you look close enough. I think that Inuyasha is portrayed a bit to emo most of the time, and sometimes he just needs to laugh a little instead of be all...emo-ish.
Besides that, I think you'll like this chapter. It has a bit of fluff, and its a lot happier and light spirited then some of the last ones. This fic is soon going to go into fluffy mode, so for all the fluff lovers, I hope you'll like it! Not that there won't be any battles or Naraku "Ku ku ku" ing his butt off, but compared to the last fics I've done, this one has a lot of fluff.
Of course, I make up for it in the end with my EVILYEVILEVILness, but I'll discuss that later.
I dedicate this chapter to orangepencils, because she has begged me even before the beginning of the fic for a moment like this. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 6: A Hanyou's Simple Laughter
Those things we pondered that night caused us all to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. Necromancy and the Curse of the Shikon no Tama hardly seemed to be subjects to be taken lightly. It was no more the days of our happy traveling, laughing while facing strange youkai easily defeated for another shard of the jewel; now we were in a world where we didn't have the slightest idea of what would befall us or what to do. We had to watch ourselves, be careful not to make a fatal mistake, and be sucked into the impending wave of what would come without knowledge of how to resist it.
My only comfort was Inuyasha, since he didn't seem as worried as the rest of us. He was fully confident that we would be able to take Naraku down no matter what he threw at us…He was too confident, actually. It had happened before where his overconfidence had gotten him into trouble—several times with Naraku, Ryuukossei, and several other times where his underestimating the enemy and overestimating his power nearly got him killed.
And this time was no different. I could already see that Inuyasha's overconfidence would get him into trouble if he didn't do something about it. Naturally, I warned him, several times, but he would not listen…He never wanted to believe that there was a possibility that he couldn't protect me from the evils of the world.
But you shouldn't have to fear of what happened in that final battle between himself and Naraku. Naraku was defeated as, I suppose, you already guessed knowing my current situation, but he was not defeated without great sacrifice…I price that I think, we should not have had to pay for such a victory. Fate would not be that cruel, would it?
If Inuyasha hadn't overestimated himself, and I hadn't been so fearful, then perhaps that fatal mistake we both made would have never occurred...innocent blood wouldn't have been spilt…A life that had so much to live for would have never been lost…And Inuyasha and I wouldn't have the pain of so many years afterward in our hearts…
It is partially my fault as well. If I had not been so naïve and fearful, then I could possibly have avoided that disaster all together…
Or maybe perhaps, the fault lies in neither of us, but in the Curse of the Shikon no Tama that we had only recently learned of at this time. My point is that if we could have only known what we know now about the curse, we wouldn't have taken it lightly…And we could have avoided all those decisions that led us down the road into our own despair…
They left early the next day, with a few goodbyes from their friends before they set out to find the wolf youkai. Unlike before, when they didn't have a clue to where Kouga was, this time they had a hint as to where to look for him.
"Inuyasha, Kouga-kun said he would be going back to the North to his den for a while, remember?" Kagome reminded him as she rode on his back as he ran through the woods.
"Yeah." He too, remembered their last encounter with the wolf…particularly because he had pledged his vow to make Kagome his mate just before he left. The hanyou gave a half-suppressed growl at that.
Inuyasha was not happy that they would have to go and seek out the wolf. Especially because Kagome would have to…touch him to learn what they needed to. Touching led to that wolf thinking he was something special…getting certain ideas…
Another, more violent growl was given at that particular thought. If the bastard ever learned it was Kagome's idea to find him, he would think that she wanted to see him for…other reasons. Reasons the hanyou would be glad to slice Kouga into tiny little pieces for thinking.
But they were still a ways away from finding him, so Inuyasha decided it was probably best not to get angry about it now. After all, Kagome might sit him and then reproach him for being jealous.
Of course, she had that all wrong. Inuyasha, jealous? Ha. Laughable. Jealous of what, the fact that he calls her his woman all the time? Yeah right. Though, the hanyou couldn't help but notice his hands were suddenly clenching into fists at the thought.
With one quick look at the sun, Inuyasha was able to pinpoint North, and soon they were heading off, without anything to hold them back.
That was one of the few times when we journeyed alone together, without our friends to hinder us. It was fun traveling with them; they were our friends, after all, but I did like being alone with Inuyasha more than anything.
That was why I wanted to go alone with him. Not just to make up for the fact that I would have to see Kouga and talk to him about information about the curse, but also because I liked it being just the two of us. It reminded me of old times, before we learned of Naraku, searching for the shards of the Shikon no Tama on our own.
Though he wasn't always nice to me on those first travels, a lot of my fine memories come from there…the time when he first said my name after defeating Yura of the hair, the time where he promised to protect me when he fought his brother, Sesshoumaru, for Tessaiga, and even though we knew Shippou-chan then, there was the time on the first new moon when he told me I smelled nice…
Not, that he had ever mentioned that since.
The only other time we were alone save when we were in my world was the time with Jinenji, who was also a hanyou. That was when he revealed to me—somewhat—of the pain that was on his heart because he was born a hanyou. When I reminded him he wasn't alone, he seemed to be better, but I always could see that pain…that loneliness in his eyes, even when he tried his hardest not to reveal it to me.
The only time that pain faded away from his beautiful eyes, the windows to his soul, was when I was there to remind him he wasn't alone…that he was wanted instead of scorned…that he was loved. Only then did I see what he was really like instead of what years upon years of loneliness had made him to be…
They had been traveling for some time when Kagome decided to venture a question. "Hey, Inuyasha?"
"Yeah?" was the reply from the hanyou currently carrying her on his back as they left the forests to a wide open field.
Kagome wasn't quite sure how to put this. "Well…what do you think of all this…of this curse, I mean?"
His reply was just what she thought it would be. He scoffed. "Keh. Nothing to worry about."
"I'm serious, Inuyasha," Kagome shot back, her tone low. "What if this curse is really dangerous?"
There was a pause as the hanyou tried to formulate his answer. "Nothing is going to hurt you, Kagome, I promise."
"But Inuyasha—"
"Just stop worrying about it, Kagome!" He cut her off, glancing behind him to show glaring amber eyes. "You shouldn't have worry about something that I'll protect you from, all right? Don't think about it right now."
Sighing, Kagome fell back, defeated, knowing it was pointless to argue with him about it now. She hoped, at least, that he was right, and that he could protect her from something that they didn't even understand as of yet.
As they went over a hill, Inuyasha still keeping to his steady pace, he suddenly stopped, glancing down below to the grassy field lit with the yellow afternoon sun…full of a flock of birds.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, glancing over his shoulder to look. "What is it?"
A smirk found its way to the corners of the hanyou's mouth. Glancing back at her with a gleam of mirth in his eyes, he asked, "You want to have some fun, Kagome?"
With that wicked look on his face, she began to get frightened. "What are you talking about?"
A slight chuckle came from the hanyou while that grin got wider. "I used to do this all the time when I was younger. You had better hang on tight."
Kagome barely had any time to pull herself closer to him. "Inuyasha what are you planning to—" He took off without warning, running faster than she had ever felt him run before.
She was hanging on for dear life as the air rushed past, making her feel like she would fall off if he wasn't gripping her to his body. "Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed as he ran faster, right towards the flock of birds.
A laugh and whoop of delight escaped him as he ran through them, white feathers flying everywhere as the terrified birds escaped to the skies in all directions. Kagome dared open her eyes as they flapped away, giving slightly frightened squeaks when one would cause her to duck from flying close.
As they left the sea of feathers, she turned back to see the giant flock take to the skies, birds squawking and flapping away in a large group. She let out a laugh as well before turning back to the still sprinting hanyou. "Inuyasha, shouldn't you slow down?" she asked, noticing he was picking up speed.
"No, this is the best part!" He assured her, glee in his voice as he headed for the stream. Kagome gripped him tighter, unsure of what he was going to do next, when he suddenly jumped right into the water.
"Inuyasha!" she screamed, expecting to get wet, but she looked down and noticed that they weren't even in the water. Inuyasha was running so fast, that he was hydroplaning on the surface. The only water Kagome felt was the spray from where his feet kicked against the river, his legs only a blur as they kept their fast pace. She couldn't do much but stare; Kagome never knew he could run that fast.
It was fun until she noticed he was heading for a waterfall. Tightening her arm around his neck in fear she screamed out, "Inuyasha, look out!" before he jumped over.
"I've got you!" he called back, as they fell, air rushing past their faces on their descent. The necklace flew in front of her shirt as her heart was pounded in fear, and her stomach turned…but Inuyasha had promised her she would be okay. And that was enough to keep her from thinking morbid thoughts of death on impact.
Unable to close her eyes, she kept them open, finding this new feeling slightly…amazing. It felt like she was flying, somewhat. She couldn't help it, she let out a laugh just as he let out another whoop as the earth came up to meet them. When they hit the ground, instead of the hard impact she expected, she merely felt a slight jerk, and then the knowledge that her stomach had returned to its proper place.
Kagome slid off the hanyou, her legs like jelly as they found the ground, and while she collapsed on to the grass, she noticed that Inuyasha was kneeling slightly; giving off pants intermixed with laughs.
"I haven't…done that in…ages…" he panted, looking more worn out than he usually did. "Not since I was a kid…"
Crawling over to him, Kagome smiled back, her brown eyes lit up with silent laughter. "That was fun, Inuyasha!"
"Keh!" he folded his arms over his still heaving chest. "Don't get used to it. I can't run that fast without…feeling it."
She couldn't hold back her laughter this time. "So, big, strong hanyou does get tired, sometimes?"
"Shut up," was her only reply as he tried to even out his breathing.
Opening up her yellow backpack, Kagome took charge. "Well, since you're tired, I suppose we should just stop and rest here, we already made good timing because of your…fun." She grinned back at him, holding up a styrofoam cup. "How about some food while we rest?"
Kagome didn't think she would ever see Inuyasha agree to rest, but it went to show that everyone was proven wrong at some point in their life.
That day, I saw a side of Inuyasha that was rarely seen…his child-like side that had been repressed after his mother died and left him all alone in the cruel world. I thought it would be one of the few times I would be seeing it, since our life was filled with endless battles, and times when complete seriousness was needed.
But, as I seemed to be proven wrong with so many things concerning him, it was not the last time I saw him like that…Full of laughter and vigor for life…I admit I never saw it much, and it was only around me. I don't think anyone else, save his mother, saw Inuyasha's childish side. And even then, I was glad that he trusted me and knew me well enough to know the other side of him that he had encased deep within his heart—away from the cruel world that didn't accept him for who he was.
They sat in the middle of the grassy field, the hum of the waterfall behind them, neither of them speaking while they ate their meal.
Though Kagme had first thought Inuyasha would be tired from his previous exertions, he appeared to be getting his strength back with every exuberant slurp of ramen. But still, the silence was beginning to get to be too much. She liked talking to him, especially after they had shared what could be called a 'moment' before.
"Hey Inuyasha?"
The hanyou didn't reply, but he did turn back to look at her and give a grunt while he slurped up the rest of the ramen.
Deciding to press forward, she continued, "You said you haven't done that since a child…why not? It seems like fun."
Setting down the styrofoam cup in his lap, he paused, his eyes filling with inner pain before turning back to her. "The last time I did that, Kagome, I was very young, and had just been put into the world on my own. I was forced to grow up without enjoying more time as a kid, and I couldn't be caught doing such a childish thing where there were youkai around."
Kagome listened, her eyes filling with pain…his pain, and was glad that he trusted her enough to share this pain with her. He usually didn't tell about his life alone, but when he did, it showed how close he actually was with her, to be able to share something so painful he normally kept bottled up.
"Are you ever going to do it again?" she asked, smiling. "It was fun."
A smile coming on his own features as Kagome, the wonderful woman who seemed to bring happiness wherever she went, told him she liked something he had shown her. "Well, maybe but I might not take you with me next time." He started rubbing his back with a clawed hand.
"Why not?" she demanded, looking disappointed.
"You think its easy running that fast with you on my back? You're not light as a feather, woman."
The hanyou smirked and began running off before the shock on her face faded and she charged after him. The anger was all in playfulness, since Inuyasha could almost certainly run faster and she had her sit command, but there was some satisfaction in her eyes when she finally tackled him after he began slowing down.
Turning him over so she could see his laughing face, Kagome gave a glare before she sat on his stomach and playfully slapped at him. He started to fight back, and eventually, they gave up the "fight" as they both collapsed in fits of laughter.
I think the reason he was so playful and happy that day was due to many factors, us being alone, a break from all the stress that was on our lives at that time, and also our growing relationship.
Something indeed had changed in him ever since he had given me that gift and I had gleefully accepted it. I shall never know his exact thoughts, but I am inclined to believe it was because he was beginning to see what I felt for him…
Oh, if only all the days afterward could have been as simple and sweet as that day…
The night was cold and dark as Kagome slept, in her sleeping bag while Inuyasha sat gazing into the fire of their camp. After their excursion, they had traveled a bit farther before settling down for the night.
Though the day had been enjoyable, and Inuyasha had remembered a side of himself he thought he had forgotten, with night, all the light and fun of the day had faded. He remembered the reason they were here, together, was because they had to stop Naraku, not for their own fun.
Nonetheless…Inuyasha had loved every minute he spent with her. Her laughter and their fun that day had filled his heart in a way he hadn't thought possible. He wanted to see her smiles. He wanted to hear her laughs—even more, he wanted to be the one who put those smiles on her faces and made her laugh.
But these thoughts…if they continued in the direction they were almost certainly heading, they would become too dangerous to muse about. He didn't want to think that way right now, especially since he had to focus everything on Naraku.
Defeating Naraku was first. Then he could contemplate his thoughts and his relationship with Kagome…and where he wished it to go.
That alone held a new problem—Kikyou. He had stopped loving her a long time ago, but he still had to keep his promise and avenge her death. He couldn't lose his head in the happiness Kagome offered him for one day and forget that he owed Kikyou at least that.
Yes. This happiness today would have to be enough. Once Naraku and Kikyou was sorted out then he could think about this new and complex problem with his life…Kagome.
A tiny prick on his neck lifted him from his thoughts. Slapping his hand to his neck, he pulled it away to reveal a slightly squashed flea youkai in his palm.
"Myouga-jiji?" he asked, amber eyes glaring. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Once the flea had popped back into his regular form, he greeted him. "Inuyasha-sama! How nice to see you again!"
Damn it all, did the flea have to come here are ruin his peace? "You didn't answer my question," the hanyou growled, squeezing the flea between his fingers.
Myouga gave a small yelp in pain. "Please, Inuyasha-sama, I was just checking up on you! Ever since your honorable father passed away, I felt obligated to keep watch over you!"
Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha remembered all the times the wimpy flea had abandoned him because he was afraid of entering battle. Preparing to flick the flea away, he muttered, "Keh! Some watch you are—" before stopping. He was suddenly hit with an idea.
When he looked back at the flea, who thought his beloved master was about to hurt him again, Inuyasha asked, "Hey, Flea,"
Myouga answered, still fearful,"Yes, Inuyasha-sama?"
Looking serious, the hanyou asked, "Have you ever heard of something called 'The Curse of the Shikon no Tama'?"
There was a pause as the flea tried to think this over. "No, Inuyasha-sama, I haven't. Is it a matter of some importance?"
Glancing back towards Kagome as he flicked the flea to who-knows-where, Inuyasha sighed, "No, not really."
