All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter Twenty
It's Okay
The car ride home was too short, he thought.
And aside from the delight of being able to play with Kagome's soft black hair, and the thrill of accidentally' touching her cheek once or twice, the ride was extremely painful. His heart beat rose above what he thought normal and he counted the beats in his head to calm himself,
One, two, three, four ...
His fingers lay somewhere on Kagome's love handle. He had placed his hand there in deep worry, not aware of highly un-gentleman like behavior. She squirmed and rolled on her back so she was looking up at his chin. He faced her. Hee, that tickles! she giggled. His fingers had been squeezing her sides. He gasped as he realized what he had been doing.
Oh my- Im so sorry Kagome I- Oh no, I really didn't mean to- Kagome watched in good humor and he sputtered out random sentence bits that made no sense.
It's okay, I understand! she said, waving her hands. This was a lie of course; she had no idea what he was saying.
He took in a deep breath and wanted to put his hand to his chest in hopes of feeling his rapid heartbeats but not now, Kagome was watching. Now was a time to be happy.
Don't worry, don't worry'.
By the time they had reached Miroku's house, Inu Yasha was recovering from a small panic attack. He tried to focus only on his breathing, but that was fast and short, and came in quick staccato intervals. Kagome sensed tension building in her friend and she put her hand on his shoulder. The touch alone soothed him more than her offer of help. She cooed, Inu Yasha? Are you okay? You look tense. He smiled half heartedly, out of politeness and said he was fine.
Upon hearing this, and to Miroku's mother's general dislike, Sango jokingly offered him a full body massage. (Which he refused with a scarlet face of course.) Miroku leaned over to her and whispered in a raspy voice, That sounds nice. She giggled and punched his arm in the soft way girls punch guys' arms.
Sango was gone. Her mother had picked her up and she gave Inu Yasha and Kagome quick good bye hugs, and she gave Miroku a long goodbye hugs which his parents noted. They were suspicious.
Inu Yasha could not walk home. He could run far distances, but he did not know how to get home from where he was. He wanted to ask Kagome, but he didn't want to be rude. Then, he realized that since walking was not and option, if he did not get aa ride from Kagome, he would be riding with Miroku's parents. He asked Kagome.
Kagome smiled as he asked for a ride and brought out a cell phone. She dialed the number. After a series of uh huh's' and yeah, Inu Yasha, he needs a ride's she turned to him and grinned. We can give you a ride if you can supply my mom with directions. she said finally. Inu Yasha bubbled with joy. She'll be here in five minutes. Kagome said.
The five minutes boiled away and before he knew it he as climbing into Kagome's mother's car. They both sat in the back seat together and Kagome started to talk about how fun the dinner was. Inu Yasha stayed silent. He bit his lower lip and stared at the line of trees that flashed before his eyes. He could feel his pulse. After Kagome finished talking about pizza she turned to the nervous Inu Yasha.
He looked at her and made a painfully fake smile and Kagome recognized his face. She frowned and her eyebrows arched together. She must have noted his anxiety for she inched closer to him and her fingers slipped into his hand. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as she held his hand. He was still nervous of course but all he could think was, As long as get to hold this hand again, as long as she is still here, everything will be okay. Everything will be okay.'
She smiled at him but he wasn't looking. He was a little pink. He was tense, she noted, and it was not too hard to see. His brow was furrowed and his lower lip was being gnawed on mercilessly. She saw him shake once or twice and couldn't help but wonder, What's wrong?' He was a little nervous all the time; It was his nature. But not like this, he had the face of a man with a rope around his neck, standing on a bucket, knowing that in a few seconds the bucket would be kicked away. She leaned over to him and cupped her hands around his soft ear and whispered. It's okay. He smiled and blushed then gave her a smile as if to thank her for the encouragement.
But he knew her words were of no use when he got home. He wanted to ask the time, but he knew that he if he found out what time it was it would trouble him more. So he didn't ask.
He gulped and looked over to Kagome sitting next to him. She was so gentle looking as she looked out the window. Her eyes glimmered with the fading pinkness of the sky and she looked like she was dreaming. Her eyes were half lidded and her lips were slightly parted. She looked like she was dreaming while awake. His only reminder of her conscientiousness was her hand softly squeezing his own. He sighed, feeling calmed by her own tranquil state.
Her hand in his.
As long as I get to hold this hand again ...'
Her soft eyes.
As long as she is still here ...'
The twinkling pink sky.
Everything will be okay'.'
Everything will be okay.'
As Inu Yasha asked, Kagome's mother brought him to the school yard. He didn't want her or Kagome anywhere near his house. He was ashamed of the wreck he lived in, he admitted it. His house was a crumbling cardboard box compared to the beauty nd wonder of Kagome's temple. Even Miroku's house was a luxury compared to his house. But the real reason he didn't want them near was the possibility of his father being drunk. If he hurt Kagome or her mother ... He would never forgive himself for that.
The car pulled up to the school lot and came to a stop. Inu Yasha took one breath in and heaved himself and his backpack out of the car. He shut his door and waited for the car to leave. It didn't. Instead, Kagome opened the door on the opposite side and ran up to him, she looked up at him hesitantly and then wrapped her arms around his waist. Her arms slid around his waist as easily and quietly as her fingers slipped into his hand. He shyly raised his bony arms around her back and hesitantly cast a nervous glance toward the car. If Kagome's mother was watching he would die from embarrassment, and be spared the alternative. She was putting on lipstick in a mirror. He sighed.
She pulled back and looked at him worriedly. Are you okay Inu Yasha? Because if something is bothering you, you can tell me. I'm worried. Yes, she was worried. Her face was terribly bothered looking. For a moment, he actually considered telling her everything. He knew he wanted to. He wanted to spill his heart out to her and let her know everything. He wanted to break down in tears and ask her to save him, but he didn't. He couldn't. Not here, not now. So he leaned towards her and whispered into her ear the same words she had told him.
It's okay.
This did not seem to help her, though her face did relax a little. You sure? You look like your about to be sick or something.Pinky promise. he said, using the old childish tradition as he lifted his hand into the air and extended his pinky finger. She made a small giggle and grabbed it with her own. Must be the pizza or something. he said and made a small chuckle at his comment. She laughed quietly and then looked at him and grinned.
See you tomorrow! she said and ran towards her car, her pinky finger sliding across his hand as she walked farther away from him.
He watched Kagome's car pull away. Then he faced homeward. This would be a long walk. He bound through the trees and his heart beat faster and faster with every leap. The tension was building.
He envisioned his father, angry and drunk, waiting for him when he got home, standing near the door with a baseball bat or a knife, with red drooping eyes and an angry scowl on his face. He shuddered. A long walk indeed.
The door creaked as he opened it slowly, in a way that is only shown in horror movies, he thought. He poked his nose through and sniffed, trying to sense the scent of alcohol. He couldn't smell anything. Nor could he smell drugs. Of course he couldn't; it was Tuesday. He took a step inside. Then another. He could hear the television going and figured that the man was in there, drinking beer. His father was always mildly drunk. He was inside the house for only about three seconds when he picked something up; a scent with his nose. Old cigarettes and alcohol. He leapt as the arms wound around him.
He screamed, but it was cut off by a hand that was pushed sideways into his mouth. His stifled scream made it through the door, which was shut shortly after. He panicked. His arms flailed uselessly at his sides until they were clamped down by a muscular arm. His eyes widened in shock as he realized that it was his father grabbing him. He had hidden behind the door.
Thought you could just sneak in, didn't you? Thought you could run off without my permission and get away with it, huh? he snarled. You thought wrong you fucking- He stopped and growled in pain as Inu Yasha bit down on his father's hand. His fangs sunk in and when the man whipped his hand away, two bloody holes were in the man's palm. The man ignored this and shoved Inu Yasha with his lower arm. he roared.
With his lower arm he pinned Inu Yasha against the wall. The child's frail throat was being crushed by the thick muscular arm. He choked for air. Where were you? the man hissed.
Inu Yasha thought fast. He only had thirty seconds or so before he ran out of air and passed out cold. If he told the truth he might as well kiss tomorrow good bye, so he lied. Twenty three seconds left. I .. fell asleep. He choked the words out in a raspy tone. Inu Yasha managed to suck in a quick breath of air as the man pulled back just the tiniest bit and shoved his arm harder against the boys throat, against his chin so that the boy's head faced upwards.
You lie. the man hissed.
You're ... crazy. Inu Yasha choked.
Don't use that tone with me Inu Yasha! Don't think I don't know what the fuck you're up to. He hissed this in a way that made Inu Yasha nervous. Could it be the man knew what really happened? Did he know about Kagome? Impossible, how could he ... ?
I ... swear. Inu Yasha gasped.
The man glared at him for what seemed like forever. A small ten seconds is forever when you don't know when you're going to breath next. Finally he pulled his arm down and Inu Yasha's head fell down enough to face his father. The man looked a little smaller now. Had Inu Yasha grown? The man said.
Could that be it? The seemingly painless interrogation? Was that all the punishment he would receive?
Of course not.
Just when he thought it was over, the man threw a punch at the boy's stomach. Inu Yasha gasped as the air came out of him like a over inflated tire that suddenly gets a hole punched in it. His mouth was ajar and he keeled over, gasping, resembling a fish. Then Inu Yasha's father took a bottle with a liquid in it and squirted ammonia into the boy's open mouth.
He clutched at his throat and fell to the ground, kicking and wheezing. He felt like there was a giant bubble in his mouth that was keeping air from getting inside. He tried to gasp and he tried to breath, but he couldn't. He felt like he was going to die right there and then, but it wasn't the first time. He squirmed and his back curled like a fish when you pull it out of the water. He squealed in high tones that consisted mostly of whatever air there was left in him.
He felt light headed now. He didn't know how long he had been on the ground. It didn't matter. It could have been a day, a minute, a year, he just wanted it to be over. Finally, his father's foot made contact with the boy's back and he coughed coarsely. A glob of saliva, mucous and poison came out when he lay there gagging. He rolled over and spat. Then he felt dizzy. He wobbled to his feet and ran to the bathroom, bumping into two walls as he went.
He keeled over the toilet and threw up. The acidic taste burned his sensitive throat and he moaned as the contents of his stomach were poured into the bowl of the toilet.
So much for being so stuffed he wouldn't have to eat for days.
But seeing how painful it was to breath, being able to eat didn't look so good. He rested the side of his head on the rim of the bowl and sighed. Then his stomach flip flopped and his cheeks bulged as he bent over the bowl and threw up again. His tongue and throat burned and throbbed and he felt like he would pass out. Using a wad of toilet paper, he wiped his mouth and spat once more into the bowl.
He clambered to the bathroom sink and filled his mouth with fresh water and gurgled it before rinsing it out of his throat. That felt a little better, he supposed. He did it three more times before he drunk some of the water to satiate his horrible thirst he had acquired. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he stumbled into his bedroom and fell to his bed. Immediately Shippou as upon him, mewing and making crying sounds. He transformed and Inu Yasha saw the soft orange fur turn into smooth orange hair. The little kitten ran to the door and closed it softly before rushing to his companion's aid.
Inu Yasha? he asked. A tear ran down his cheek. Are- are you ... okay? he said and hiccuped small sobs inbetween some words. Inu Yasha turned to him and nodded his head slowly. He felt that if he nodded any faster, the world would never stop spinning. He couldn't speak well. Then he hissed,
It's okay. He saw Kagome in his mind. Her worried face danced across his thoughts. He saw her sitting next to him, sighing out of the window and her eyes glimmering like an ocean at sunset. He felt her wrap her arms around his waist and worry for him. He smiled dizzily.
As long as I can see her again, as long as I can still hold her soft hands, everything will be okay.
Everything will be okay.'
Author's Notes
(Okay, sadly, I forgot to print out Fingertips chapter three, so I won't be updating it for another week. :sob: But I will give you this instead! And if you haven't already checked out Fingertips ... :nudge nudge:)
Fanart:
(By Sleepwalking Chicken and HAP)
http / www . deviantart . com / deviation / 17389242 /
(Take out spaces)
AUGH! THE FLUFF! IT BUUURNS:Rubs eyes:
So ... cute! So damned sweet and tender! Eep! I can't believe I actually writ this. Where did all the love come from? Well, is really just Kagome being worried for her beloved little Inu Yasha. The poor thing. Ammonia is an awful thing to eat. And speaking of gruesomeness, one girl couldn't finish this fic. She had to put it down because she said it was so gruesome she couldn't finish it.
Well, it's not quite as happy as the last chapter, but I hope all you sadists out there are sadist-fied. (Get it? Like satisfied?) I had to write an abuse chapter. I believe the story was due for one. Yup yup. So hope you enjoyed!
Review Responses
theamazingd: Thank you! And I update usually every other week. This is an exception. But only because I missed a update because of being grounded.
PeppyGal: Thank you! And I don't think he has a human night in this story. I might use it later, but as for now, I don't think there will be a human night. He is pretty frail right now anyhow. He has the endurance of a half breed, but since he is so weak, he is no stronger than a human.
AnimeMaster168: So much for lacking anxiety huh?
Keru: Yes. Some people die in this story. In fact, two of the most important main characters are already dead. Inu Yasha has a few near death experiences.
billy'sgotagun: Oh my god, I am so sorry I didn't reply to you last chapter, I was all side tracked because things were out of order that I forgot to!
1) I'm really glad you like my story, guy. I love it when people can relate to my characterss because that means that the characters are likable ones. (I hope.) And I am real glad you enjoy it so much, because that makes me feel happy to know that someone out there likes my stuff.
2) I understand what you're saying. However, I am the most tolerant and patient person you will meet in your entire LIFE. I don't mind anger, but I just find it ... pointless. I usually cry when something upsets me, instead of sending chairs through walls. I suppose you are morea of an angry person than I, and have used it in well ... self destructive ways.
So, advice from me would be, THINK before you act. You seem like you can be impulsive, and that can get you hurt a lot. But until you learn to use your anger in ways that don't hurt you, your going to be pretty fucking miserable. I suggest you cry until you're dehydrated. Works for me! (Yeah, I know everyone says that boys don't cry, but the truth is, only the stupid boys say stuff like that.) I heard a great quote somewhere that said something like.
It takes power to hold back tears, but it takes a certain strength to cry when it's appropriate.
But I probably ruined the quote. It was something along those lines. In other words, well, don't go blubbering over every little thing, but when you really feel like you need to, it's important to weep. I know this. My dad hadn't cried for fifteen years and he went totally insane when he finally did. He cried three times a day and I found it kind of embarassing.
And there is nothing wrong with crying! I swear to god, where the hell do guys get these dumbass ideas? It's not dishonorable, it's normal! I mean, some lady tolf my grandma that breast feeding causes cancer and she believe her! mean, WTF! People have been breastfeeding kids since they were monkeys in caves, and THEY didnt have cancer! What I'm saying is, okay sure, if you bawl like a baby at everything then that's a little ... queer. But if you hold everything inside all the time, then you are making a GIANT mistake. BELIEVE ME! People that never cry grow up to become psycho. It's just not a good thing. So go and bawl your eyes out for me:grins:
I hope you get better.
Valdevenator 01: Thanks! And Inu Yasha does think like a kid sometimes. You're right. I'm actually glad you noticed thaat! I was trying to stress that point. See, Inu Yasha, as you'll learn, never really had much of a childhood. His mom died when he was youg, his father became a wreck and he never really had those good memories of being a kid. So he is kind of stuck in kid mode. It's hard to explain but, he is stuck. He is kind of waiting to fulfill his dreams of a good childhood because he can't really move past the tragedy of his life. He has not yet learned to grow up. Besides, he is only fifteen. That's still childhood I guess.