Chapter 64
The feel of her lips had nearly faded from his memory now. Her kisses were distant, like a far off memory though every day he tried to pry it back to the surface. He had held so tight, but it had slipped right through his hands. Just like a slippery bar of soap at the young miko's house, when she had forced him to take showers. Ah, those memories. Even those were slowly starting to fade. Sometimes…he dreamed of her, but he knew it would never be that way again. Never again would he be able to feel the gentle pressure or heat of her lips on his. No more, would she sink slowly into his arms, kissing his neck with such a passion that could send the both of them into a daze. Never again would he hear her whisper those sweet, sweet words….
Inuyasha sighed heavily, amber eyes casting slowly down to the dizzying sky blue and white checkered sheet that was spread beneath him. His pointed fingertips trailed over a blue square, outlining it solemnly. The happy voices of Miroku and Sango sounded beside him, but he could barely hear them at all anymore as his thoughts clogged his drooping dog ears.
He missed her kisses. He missed everything about her that she had gained confidence to do after that slow night in the water. He missed holding her close, kissing her, telling her that he loved her. Why did the world have to be so cruel? Why was this so hard?
It was like quitting smoking.
"Inuyasha!"
The call of his name in a light voice snapped the hanyou from his thoughts. Wide golden eyes lifted quickly to meet solid brown. He glared slightly, crossing his arms forcefully and taking in a short, grumpy breath.
"You could smile once in awhile, you know!"
"Feh. Whatever, Kagome. Isn't the ramen done by now?" He shot back, sneaking in a quick whiff of the air. Kami, the smell was heavenly whenever she came around.
Kagome smiled sweetly, shaking her head a little. "It's almost done." She offered to him, taking another glance at the steaming Styrofoam cup of noodles. She twisted around on her knees to watch the water boil slowly before she finally plucked the ramen from the little bars over the fire she had built.
"Done." She stated, setting the hot cup in front of Inuyasha with a confident grin. As she pulled her hands away from the burning hot cup, she felt her fingers brush with his. Her heart gave a quick flutter, her cheeks flushing suddenly. It felt so wonderful…but it was forbidden.
It was a week since she had gotten out of that little hospital. For awhile, she had thought she never would. The long gashes down her arms and legs, stomach and chest all healed beautifully. Then there were the scars. The rips across her shoulder reminded her each day of how she had planted that sharp arrow through her once-lover's chest. Then there were the long scars down her back, though barely visible, would forever haunt her of the painful, yet passionate night so long ago.
It was only a few days since the two's painful decision. Inuyasha had led her deep into the forest where no ears could here them and no eyes could see them. Once there, he held her tight, rough kisses holding them completely silent. His fingers felt too wonderful threading through her hair, his lips pushing against hers. But they knew this had to be the last time. Ever. Sooner or later, the youkai would find them, and use their obvious love against them. If anyone at all found out about their affair, one of them would be captured and used as bait. They all knew it. They all had to hold back their feelings now, as if everything was just the same as the yesterday of so many days ago, before their love had been confessed.
'We can't do this anymore…' She had said, watching Inuyasha nod solemnly. He kissed her again, just for good time's sake. Then another and another followed until it became clear how hard this would be. 'We can't let them find out, we have to stop.' She repeated. He nodded. They kissed.
'I love you', He had whispered, and she had whispered it back to him. How could they ever pull this off?
But it was days later, and not once had either pair kissed each other. Their lips were addictive, and that kind of habit was so hard to break. They all seemed duller, quieter, unhappier. It would take time to mosey back to their old ways. Miroku's womanizing, Sango's slapping, Kagome's sitting, and Inuyasha's bickering and angry moods.
The hanyou quickly swiped up the cup of ramen, the little trails of steam finally vanishing into the air. He simply stared down at it, the thoughts that had been swirling in his mind had killed his appetite. But how could he simply toss away something Kagome had spent time into making for him? He had done it before, but now it seemed so…cruel.
"Hold on…" Kagome's voice suddenly cut Inuyasha's attention back to her. "I have something to give you."
The sneaky smile over the girl's delicate lips was unnerving. He could feel his entire body give a curious shudder as the girl reached back behind her. Miroku and Sango had stopped their little conversation to watch Kagome intently as she searched for something behind her rather secretly. When Inuyasha set down his cup of ramen and craned his neck to try to sneak a peek over her shoulder, she snapped back around in a rush.
"Close your eyes." She demanded, placing her empty hands back in her lap with a smile.
"What? No way!" The hanyou refused, glancing towards his other two companions for support. When he received four other devilish stares from each of the other Inu tachi members, he turned back in a heavy grump. "What for?"
"Just do it, Inuyasha! Come on, you're no fun!" She replied, sneaking a playful glance at the rest of the group. Of course they backed her up, just as curious to what she was up to as Inuyasha was. "Just close your eyes."
"Do it, Inuyasha!" Shippo piped from where he was settled in front of a heaping plate of homemade Oden. He stuffed a greedy hand into the pile, filling his little mouth as he urged on the hanyou to do as Kagome said.
He drew in a heavy breath out of pure frustration. What was she up to now with that mischievous smile, that sneaky laughter passing her lips? His pride told him to hold his head high and continue on refusing. Kagome had no control over him now. He could do whatever he pleased! But somehow, with a mean glare towards the rest of the pack and then back to the girl, he let his lids slide closed and the curiosity take over.
The silence was deafening, suspense accumulating in his stomach, forming a hard lump in his throat. What was that rustling sound and clicking of polished stone? This wasn't going to be good, he just knew it. But perhaps…it wouldn't be so bad. He had no way of knowing as one of those strong urges rushed over him. His hands clenched, every muscle becoming tight as the cold air stung his lips. Just one more. It didn't even have to be that long. Just one more kiss.
Kagome watched him with amusement, clutching something tightly in her thin hands. The way his brows furrowed and his hands clenched made a pang of guilt stab her in the side. She could remember kissing him no more than a week or so ago. His lips were addictive…how was she ever going to stop that heavy craving. It was hard enough to keep her mouth away from his as she leaned forward.
One….two…three. Inuyasha breathed out slowly, trying so hard to calm himself, that throbbing in the pit of his stomach. His fingers twitched and he felt the precious warmth of Kagome's bare leg. He pulled away, a blush crawling over his cheeks. Just wait. Just be quiet and wait for what she had for him…
Oh the suspense. It was killing the hanyou, his heart beginning to beat out of control. His heart nearly leaped straight out of his chest when the feeling of warm flesh brushed his shoulders. Her fingers tickled at the tips of his silvery ears. He flicked them in annoyance. Finally, something heavy dropped around his neck.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
Inuyasha's eyes shot wide open, his clawed hands rushing up to grasp the cold beads wound around his neck. His jaw dropped in pure shock as he tugged wildly at the purple rosary that had been returned to him. Yank and pull and growl as he would, the necklace would not lift over his neck. Why? Why would Kagome do such a….
Oh, but the innocent look on her face. How could he be angry when deep inside, something had missed being attached to her by the subduing beads. He had felt empty without that gentle weight of it around his neck, without that tiny fear of being 'sat' that kept him from shouting out things that he really didn't mean. It kept him in line, kept them all laughing, no matter the pain or annoyance.
…It wasn't so bad…
Kagome's eyes sparkled as she laughed gently, the laughter of their other companions joining in behind them. Everything else seemed to melt away but the sound of the miko's sweet laughter, the smile on her delicate lips, the blush on her soft cheeks. This was love…and he wasn't even aloud to show it. Slowly, a smile spread onto Inuyasha's face, bright amber eyes casting down as his own laughter added to the chorus.
So was that it? Was it over? What of it now that those words had been shared and those lips had touched? It would be so much easier to forget about it, but so much harder at the same time. From time to time, they knew they wouldn't be able to control it, the urge to kiss the ones they loved and say it just one last time before they straightened up again to continue their journey. They knew what it would do the moment the two pairs set their lips upon their partners. They knew, but they didn't care. But that front was gone now. Now they knew what could happen if the fact of their love fell into the wrong hands. It would be held against them, as it was, faked, when the Thunder Brothers attacked. It even looked as though everything was back to normal. Inuyasha's cursing and bickering with Kagome had returned, though perhaps a bit less intense, as if they were just fighting to show the world they weren't in love, when they really still were. And so it did look as though nothing had changed. As if those kisses were never shared. As if those words were spared. It looked all the same as before, only because it was the same as before. All along, those feelings were there, they just didn't know it. And even though they realized, even though their eyes had been opened, nothing seemed to be changing. Back to black, to the darkness of confusion, wondering how the other felt about each other. They couldn't allow it to change, for the sake of all their lives and the ongoing journey they still needed to complete. But they wouldn't forget. Not one of the members of the Inu Tachi gang would forget what had happened. And even if it looked as if nothing had changed, nothing was the same anymore…they just didn't quite know it yet. But there was one thing they all knew, even from the very beginning: He was her hero. She was his destiny.
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Kyome- Yes, yes! I know I'm so mean to her! Still, don't think I'm all nice and dandy, though. She could still die...ya never know what I might throw at ya!
Antilove006- I...I, what? I, WHAT! YOU LEFT ME HANGING!
Alexa- Awww! Well...I must say...I may disappoint you just a little. I don't know when the sequel will be coming but it will be on this account and hopefully sometime soon! I'm afraid, since I left this one with such a...semi cliffy...semi not...I will have to skip SOME time. I mean...common. But, yeah. I think you'll like what I had in store for you!
angelqt1231- PEEHEE! Well, yeah. I'm making a sequel, as you probably already know. I think I'm even making a few more Inuyasha stories!
Akina315- Go ahead and cry! I love it when my story is so good that it makes people cry. LUFFLY!
kaginufan88- Whooooaa! Okay, then! I shall do that! I'm glad you liked those parts. What's a good story without your favorites characters dying about...5 times...and then coming back. Eh? O.O' But, yeah, Naraku is a bit shmexay when he isn't...furry...
Lindsay- Yup! I think if I had waited any longer I would have gotten a giant katana through my head! Jeepers! Aight. thumbs up
BlackParade- H-Happy Noodle Boy? That's about all I have to say to that... O.O'
GoingGhost- My god, I love you. I thought I needed to add a little Inu being a big brother moment. And, yeah, that has to be the first time Inu has given up and actually asked for help. Poor dude. He sure hurt his ego that time.
Hanako Horigome- It's my job to spoil you with my fluffly fanfiction goodness! I'm pretty sad about it ending, too! Good thing I'm making another!
life-as-we-know-it- Me? Pshaaw! Shpank ya!
Inuyashangel- FLATTERING! Thank you!
silverkonekotsukari- Dude...Inuyasha got freaky in quite a few places with quite a few girls! He's pretty naughty. I think he's had more sneakah sneakah inbetween da cheekah than Miroku has! And how do you know I wouldn't kill her! Furgin'...
rika- Yeah, it does! And it means alot since...heh...I'm an 8th grader as well... Shocking, huh?
xcurlyinuyashax- DUUUUDE! I keep checking out your comics and those are FUNNEH! I love 'em. Anyway, I'm kinda busy with school and junk so, when I get the time, I'll definitely review for one of your fics! But ya know I love ya too kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss
Inumeblue- I'm so glad! Thanks for reading!
DarknessLight combined- Eeerrrr...Yeah, I noticed that. It got confusing after awhile since there are so many ways to spell it so I just gave up and called it his father's fang and junk. But, yeah. I was just too lazy to go back and edit it.
Karate-Chick06- FWEE! Aw is very good!
XxpockyxXobsessionsXx- Believe it? Heh. Well I know SOMEBODY who watches Naruto!
Kelly- Assume as you may, though I'm an evil little girl!
TamerofDragons- Well...I must stop now...because... -sniff-...it tis over...
-sniff sniff- So...it's over. Yes, this is the very end of the famous 'Running In Circles Without You'. It has be a long and harsh journey of tears, laughter, and horror. Forgive meh if this is a sucky ending...but just remember that there WILL be a sequel! I don't know when, or how it will go...but there shall be one! So...farewell my beautiful and loving reviewers! This concludes the first installment of Crimson Beauty's Inuyasha and Kagome saga! Until next time...-poofeh-