I was travelling but I'm back home and a new chapter is ready!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Difficult

Inuyasha jumped out of the bed, startling her with the sudden move.

"Are you out of your mind?" his face softened and he approached her slowly, holding her shoulders and looking into her eyes. "She'll think I'm dangerous, just like you did."

Kagome waited for her heart to calm and raised her right hand, placing it on his face. He looked away angrily.

"Hey," she stroked his cheek with her thumb, smiling when he sighed through his nose. "Look at me."

And he did. Inuyasha leaned into her until their breaths mingled.

His golden eyes took her breath away every time he looked down at her, but Kagome focused on her goal. Now was not the time to get distracted and think about kissing him.

"Do you trust me?" she asked softly, tilting her head.

Inuyasha shifted his gaze between her eyes and wrinkled his nose, taking a step back.

"Keh. I guess so," he grunted, folding his arms.

She leaned her back against the wall and sighed, trying to control her breathing.

Why did it affect her so much to have Inuyasha around?

"My mother and I have always told each other the truth. If I tell her you're a good guy, she'll believe me."

Inuyasha parted his lips, showing his fangs, and his eyes flashed.

"I'm not a good guy. I'm not even human," he hissed angrily.

Kagome rolled her eyes at his pout and stepped closer to him again, seeking his gaze.

"Stop pretending you're evil. We both know the truth," she whispered, touching his nose with her forefinger.

Inuyasha grunted something under his breath that she couldn't hear, but it sounded like another complaint. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, stopping his protests instantly.

When Kagome pulled away, he was looking into her eyes again. She gave him a small smile and walked to the door.

"I'm going to talk to her. I'll let you know when you can come," she added, pulling her phone out of the pocket of her trousers and waving it in her hand.

Inuyasha ran his tongue over his teeth, thinking about his options. He carried his phone like he always did, hidden in the folds of his cloth belt.

"Wouldn't it be better if she met me one of the nights I'm human?"

Then at least she wouldn't see his ears and fangs.

"No," Kagome said, shaking her head. "I want her to know who you really are. I hate lies."

His heart shrank at the thought of all the times he had lied to her since they had met. Inuyasha averted his gaze to the wall, scratching one of his ears.

It was amazing to him how much of a change of heart he'd had in a few months, and all thanks to this human who had awakened something inside him that he didn't know he had.

"Okay. I hope you know what you're doing."

She nodded, smiling again.

"Stop worrying, Inuyasha. My mother is very understanding."

He bit his tongue to keep from answering. Kagome was the only human who tolerated him, and he doubted there was another one who could be comfortable in his presence.

Inuyasha spoke again just as her hand was on the doorknob.

"So when you let me know I come downstairs, right?"

She froze, staring at him with wide eyes.

"No!" she hissed, feeling her heart hammering in her chest. "You can't go down the stairs! No one knows you're in my room."

What would her mother think if she knew she'd been alone in her room with a guy?

Inuyasha pursed his lips and she sighed, relaxing her posture.

That demon had lost his parents and couldn't even remember them. It was normal for him not to understand something like that.

"Go out the window and ring the doorbell, as if you had just arrived."

His lips curved upward.

"Didn't you say you always tell her the truth?" he questioned teasingly, arching an eyebrow.

Kagome narrowed her eyes.

"There are some things she's better off not knowing," she muttered, opening the door. "Wait for my message."

Inuyasha nodded, plopping down on the mattress once he was alone.

He stared up at the ceiling and furrowed his brow.

"This is all so fucking complicated," he grunted, snorting in annoyance.

Though the idea of walking away from Kagome was far worse. That was no longer an option, it was too late for him.

After knowing her he couldn't see himself not having her in his life, as hard as that was to accept.

Inuyasha raised one of his hands, letting the light from the ceiling illuminate it and running his gaze over his sharp nails.

Everything would be so much easier if he were human. He wouldn't have to run from demons once a month, he could live in the city and no one would think it was wrong for them to be together.

Inuyasha clenched his fist, dropping his hand to his chest and gritting his teeth.

No. He was a half-demon, and he liked being one.

And best of all, Kagome accepted him for who he was.

Inuyasha smiled, closing his eyes and relaxing against the mattress. Her scent enveloped him, filling his chest with warmth.

Everything would be alright.

Kagome waited at the top of the stairs for her blush to fade before heading downstairs.

Sota and her grandfather were still asleep on the sofa. Her mother was sitting on the armchair reading a book and looked up as she heard her footsteps.

Kagome walked over to her, crouching down beside her and speaking very softly.

"There's something I have to tell you, mum."

Kimiko raised her eyebrows in surprise and closed her book carefully, setting it on her lap.

"Did something happen at work today?" she asked, scanning her daughter's face with a worried look. "Are you alright?"

Kagome held one of her hands, squeezing it reassuringly.

"It's not that," she nibbled on her lower lip, thinking of the best way to tell her. "You see... I haven't been completely honest with you."

How could she explain to her mother that she had fallen in love with a demon who had tried to kill her?

Kagome pursed her lips. Better not to mention that part.

Kimiko's brows drew together. Her daughter had never lied to her.

"Do you remember Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, sweeping her gaze over her face.

Kimiko smiled again.

"Your boyfriend?" she replied, her smile widening as she saw her blush. "It's impossible to forget that name."

Kagome glanced nervously toward the sofa, making sure the other members of her family were still asleep.

Her mother cleared her throat, catching her attention again.

"When will you tell him how you feel about him?"

All the air was knocked out of her lungs. Kagome stared at her mother again, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

Damn it. Inuyasha was listening to everything they were saying.

"Soon, but I don't want to talk about it either," she muttered between her teeth, glancing sideways down the hall and cursing herself internally. "He's... he's not like us. He's different."

Kimiko blinked.

"Different?" she repeated in confusion. "He's not Japanese? With that name, I would never have guessed he was foreign."

"That's not what I mean," Kagome replied, shaking her head. "Inuyasha is not entirely... human."

Her mother frowned.

"He's not human?"

"Part of him is," Kagome hastened to add, squeezing her hand again. "But he's also a demon."

Kimiko let out a long sigh.

"Kagome... if this is a joke, it's not funny."

"I'm not joking, mum," she insisted, leaning closer and looking into her eyes. "I'm telling the truth."

Kimiko's body tensed, and she watched Kagome silently for a moment.

"A demon?" she repeated softly.

Kagome smiled. She knew she would take her word for it.

"Inuyasha lives inside the Forbidden Forest," she explained in a whisper.

Kimiko's face paled and Kagome held both of her hands tightly.

"Calm down, mum. Breathe deeply," she asked, showing her how to do it.

She mimicked her and slowly the colour returned to her cheeks.

"In the forest?" she hissed, narrowing her eyes which were the same colour as Kagome's. "That means you've been inside."

Kagome nodded and her mother closed her eyes, shaking her head regretfully.

"For gods' sake, Kagome..." she sighed, opening them again. "What were you thinking?"

Kagome let out a shaky breath.

She found herself unable to put into words the attraction she had always felt to those ancient trees, or the leaps her heart made when she first saw Inuyasha, or the joy she felt when she saw him again that rainy day and decided she was going to trust him.

"It's a long story," she blinked several times, trying to hold back tears at the worry on her mother's face. "I need you to trust me, mum."

Kimiko rolled her eyes.

"You know I do, honey. You've always been a very smart girl and you know how to make good decisions."

Kagome sighed in relief. Her mother's support was what she needed most at the moment.

"Not everything in that forest is evil," she smiled as she thought of Sara and how that demon in her room had saved her life. "Inuyasha is a good person."

Kimiko nodded, leaning her back against the armchair again.

"So the legends are true?"

She snorted at her daughter's nod.

"I can't believe it... You were right after all," she grimaced, setting her book down on the coffee table. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep well at night again."

Kagome sat on one of the arms, placing a hand on her shoulder. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to have nightmares as horrible as hers.

"A magical barrier prevents the yōkai from leaving the forest. We are safe."

Kimiko glanced at her out of the corner of her eye.

"But Inuyasha can get out, can't he?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"He's the only one. He found out not too long ago," Kagome admitted, placing her hands in her lap and watching her brother's chest rise and fall with each of his breaths.

What would Sota say if he found out she was dating a half-demon?

"Why are you telling me all this now, child?"

Kagome tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth. The time had come to follow her idea, and she hoped Inuyasha was wrong.

"I don't want to keep things from you anymore, mum," she replied, combing her dark hair with her fingers and avoiding her mother's gaze. "I'd like you to meet him."

Kimiko gasped and her eyes widened.

"Now?"

Kagome nodded.

"Is he at the shrine?" she asked, looking out the window.

It was dusk and orangey rays were streaming through the glass, illuminating the walls with golden highlights.

"He'll come if I call him."

Kimiko took a deep breath and stood up, crossing her arms over her chest.

"All right," she agreed, giving her a small smile. "I'm looking forward to meeting the boy who has managed to steal your heart."

Kagome choked.

"Mum!" she protested as she coughed.

Damn Inuyasha and his demon ears.

"It's the truth," Kimiko said with a shrug.

Kagome snorted, her bangs moving with her breath. It seemed like Inuyasha was destined to know all her secrets.

"I'm going to text him," she mumbled, pulling out her phone.

Kagome's mother's words were still swirling in his mind.

'Is she in love with me too?'

She hadn't said anything when she heard how the bond was sealed, nor when he explained that in a few years she would have to leave the human world. Maybe she wasn't willing to do all that.

His heart skipped a beat when his phone vibrated, snapping him out of his thoughts.

You can ring the doorbell now

Inuyasha sighed, moving up until he was sitting on the mattress. He decided to leave the sword there, even though he didn't like to be away from it.

He was probably going to scare the human woman enough without it.

He opened the window and jumped down into the temple courtyard, taking several deep breaths as he scanned the surrounding trees with his gaze.

Why did he feel like running away? He had faced hundreds of yōkai, the reaction of a human couldn't scare him.

Though Inuyasha knew well that what he feared was being rejected again.

He approached the door with slow steps, his ears flattening to his head.

'Relax. She's going to scream but nothing bad will happen. You have to trust Kagome.'

Inuyasha took a deep breath one last time and rang the doorbell. He heard footsteps on the other side of the door and the first thing he saw when it opened was Kagome's face.

He was sure he would smell her anxiety from across the shrine.

"Hello," she greeted nervously, stepping to the side. "Come in."

Inuyasha looked away from her face and his steps faltered when he saw a woman at the end of the hallway, watching him warily.

He sniffed the air, frowning as he detected no fear.

"Come with me," Kagome whispered, surprising him by taking his hand.

The two walked down the hallway together, stopping in front of the woman.

"This is Inuyasha, mum," Kagome said, glancing between them. "This is Kimiko, my mother."

Inuyasha was so tense he seemed unable to move. He gave her a curt nod, fixing his gaze on the woman's face.

She looked a lot like Kagome, and he recognized her scent. It was all over the house.

Kimiko cocked her head, not taking her eyes off Inuyasha.

"So this is what forest demons are like, huh?" she asked in a calm tone.

Inuyasha's breath hitched.

"Not all of them have a human form," Kagome said, interlacing their fingers as she felt his nerves.

Having her so close was a great comfort. Inuyasha turned his head, concentrating on the sweet scent emanating from her hair.

His ears twitched and he saw Kimiko's gaze drift up to them.

"Those ears are adorable," the woman commented.

Both of her hands moved in slow motion. Inuyasha followed them with his gaze, stiffening as they came close to his face.

"Mum, don't..." Kagome tried to interject, but her mother gave her a look that silenced her.

Inuyasha gasped when Kimiko grabbed both of his white ears.

"As soft as a puppy's," she said, her smile widening as she stroked them. "Would you like some tea, Inuyasha?"

The woman stepped back, looking at him with kind eyes, and he blinked, confused.

Just like that? What about the screams?

"Inuyasha?"

Both women jumped at the sound of the voice coming from the living room. Kagome released his hand, covering the doorway with her body.

"Sota! Go back inside!" she demanded in a high-pitched voice.

Her brother ignored her, pushing her aside with his arms.

His mouth fell open at the sight of Inuyasha. He looked him up and down, eyeing his red suit with interest.

"Is this Inuyasha?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're not human," he said, pointing an accusing finger at him.

Inuyasha clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms.

"No."

Sota's huge grin threw him completely off balance.

"Cool," the human added, biting his lip as he stared up at his ears. "Can I touch them?"

Kagome smacked his arm as he extended it in his direction, stepping between them again.

"No, Sota. Leave him alone."

Inuyasha felt Kagome's hand tugging at his again. He heard a shout as he entered the living room and saw an older man by the sofa, holding several pieces of paper between his fingers.

"A yōkai! Go back to hell, demon!" he shrieked, throwing them at him.

The three pieces of paper slammed into Inuyasha's chest and slowly fell to the ground. He glanced sideways at Kagome and she rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, grandpa," she said, shooting a warning glance at the man, who sat back down with a pout. "Ignore him," she whispered, gently pushing Inuyasha towards the dining table.

The two sat down while Kimiko filled the kettle with water and Sota searched the drawers for something sweet. Inuyasha bit the inside of his cheek, puzzled at the calmness emanating from everyone.

What the hell was wrong with that family? Why weren't they freaking out?

He looked back at Kagome, who was watching him with a smile on her face.

"Does he have powers like you?" he murmured, pointing to the sofa with his chin.

"No, but he thinks he does," Kagome snorted, following his gaze. "Grandpa!"

The man had just pulled more papers out of his pocket but set them aside as he grumbled.

"Inuyasha is our guest today," Kimiko said, setting the kettle down. She sat down across from Inuyasha and rested both arms on the table. "Will you stay for dinner?"

His lips parted but his voice didn't come out.

Stay for dinner?

"I..." he caught Kagome's smile out of the corner of his eye and sighed. "Yes."

Her happiness surrounded him, filling every corner of the room and making his heart pound harder. It was impossible to say no to anything like this.

If Kagome felt happy it meant everything was fine. He could relax a little, or try to.

"Well, Inuyasha. Tell us how you met my daughter."

Inuyasha tensed up at her mother's request. He exchanged a worried glance with Kagome and she cleared her throat.

"I'd better tell that story," she said, lacing her fingers with his again on the table.