Chapter Twenty-Nine

Meeting

He didn't like being the centre of attention. At all.

Inuyasha swallowed, looking around nervously. All four members of the Higurashi family were sitting at the table and staring at him.

Kagome nudged him softly in the ribs.

"Come on, Inuyasha. Taste it."

Her mother had insisted on preparing her signature dish: chicken with red curry sauce.

He'd never tasted that sauce before. And it smelled funny.

Inuyasha glanced sideways at Kagome and snorted, poking at one of the pieces of meat.

His tongue burned as soon as it touched it, all his muscles tensed and his ears twitched. He spat it onto the plate and jumped up, panting loudly.

"It burns!"

The laughter of Sota and Kagome's grandfather boomed in his ears. She ran to the kitchen and opened the fridge in search of something.

"I thought a demon like you would like spicy food," Kimiko commented, sighing heavily.

Inuyasha shot a hateful glare at Sota, who was laughing his head off.

"My tongue hurts," he grunted between gasps.

It was as if he had eaten fire.

"Here. Drink this."

He accepted the glass full of white liquid Kagome was offering him and drank the contents down a little at a time. The burning subsided and Inuyasha sighed in relief, finishing the glass of milk in one gulp.

"Better?" she asked, looking at him with concern.

Inuyasha nodded and the two sat back down. Kagome pushed his plate away and placed another one without sauce in front of him.

"You're not as scary as you should be."

He clenched his jaw to keep from talking. That little human should learn to shut his mouth.

"Believe me, Sota. Inuyasha can be very scary if he wants to," Kagome replied, glancing sideways at him as he tasted another piece of meat warily. "But he doesn't like to scare humans."

A small growl of approval echoed in his chest. The food was delicious.

Kimiko smiled and the family continued eating calmly.

"I don't care about humans," Inuyasha muttered, raising his gaze to Kagome's face. "Just some of them."

A smile curved his lips as he saw her blush.

"But you don't want to hurt them either," Kimiko replied quietly and thoughtfully. "I would never have guessed that the legends of the forest were real."

The grandfather sighed, setting his fork aside.

"My protective papyrus does nothing to him," he grunted, shifting his gaze between Inuyasha and the papers in his lap.

Kagome folded her arms and frowned.

"Grandpa!"

"Will you come to visit us again soon, Inuyasha?" Kimiko asked, ignoring the rest of her family.

Four pairs of eyes returned to him. Inuyasha cleared his throat, straightening his back.

What could he answer?

"I don't know."

"Yes! You have to come back!" Sota shouted excitedly. "I can teach you how to play video games."

"Video games?" Inuyasha repeated, glancing sideways at Kagome.

She nodded, smiling because he remembered that word.

"It's what I told you Sota loves. You play them using the television and some remotes," she explained, pointing to the black rectangle in front of the sofa.

Inuyasha stared at the images that were showing there, changing every second. Human devices were fascinating.

"Maybe another day," he agreed, standing up after looking at the windows. "It's late and I should be going."

The sky had darkened and it was probably not long before the humans wanted to sleep. Besides, part of him was still waiting for them to realise who was in front of them and start screaming.

He needed to get out of there.

Kimiko nodded with a smile. She and Kagome stood up and walked him to the door, followed by Sota. The grandfather remained seated on the sofa, grunting a protest that Inuyasha ignored.

"Thank you for coming to meet us, Inuyasha. You seem like a nice guy," the woman commented as he opened the front door.

Inuyasha scratched his ear, not knowing what to say, and Kimiko's smile widened. He lowered his hand before she asked to touch them again.

"How do you get back to the forest now?" Sota asked in a curious voice, stepping out into the temple courtyard after him.

"Jumping."

The human's eyes widened further.

"Really?"

"It's in that direction," Inuyasha replied, pointing to the trees in the background. "It only takes me a couple of minutes to get there."

Kimiko sighed.

"Take care of yourself, honey. That place has to be dangerous."

Inuyasha nodded, pursing his lips. It was too strange that so many humans knew his terrible secret.

He felt something warm inside his chest ever since he had sat down to eat with them. He hadn't understood what it was at first, but when he saw those three smiling faces, he just knew. He felt accepted for the first time in his life.

His gaze flew to the human that had caused it all and he gave her a small smile.

"Goodbye, Kagome."

She smiled even wider, her cheeks flushing.

"Goodnight."

Inuyasha glanced sideways at the human family again and leapt upwards, disappearing into the leaves of the nearest tree.

"Wow!" Sota exclaimed, following the red blur as it leapt from tree to tree at full speed.

After a few seconds, only the chirping of crickets could be heard in the huge courtyard.

"He's amazing," her mother commented, wrapping an arm around Kagome's shoulders.

She nodded.

"He really is."

Kimiko chuckled and startled her children, who were still looking in the direction the demon had disappeared.

"Let's go back home."

Kagome furrowed her brow as she entered her bedroom.

She could make out the shape of Inuyasha's sword on her bedspread, which meant he had left it there before he went down to meet her family.

But it was gone, and there was no sign of him.

Had he really left?

Kagome grabbed her phone and opened the chat with Inuyasha.

Why aren't you in my room?

His reply came in less than a minute.

You wanted me to stay?

She snorted, shaking her head.

Of course! We still need to talk about a lot of things

She sat down on the edge of her mattress, setting the phone on the nightstand. Three minutes later she looked up when her window opened.

Inuyasha landed with a jump on the carpet, propping himself up on all four limbs.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Kagome smiled as she saw that he was sitting just like a puppy.

How could a demon be so adorable?

"I couldn't tell you to jump into my room with my mother in front of us."

Inuyasha wrinkled his nose and stood up, sitting down beside her on the bed and crossing his legs on the mattress.

"Right."

Kagome reached out, tracing his knuckles with a finger.

"Thanks for agreeing to meet my family."

"They're weird," he said, looking into her eyes. "Just like you."

"Why do you say that?"

Inuyasha averted his gaze and folded his arms, jamming his hands into his red sleeves.

"Humans don't like demons. They locked us in that forest to keep us away from them."

"They locked you all in there?" Kagome repeated in surprise. "The magical barrier was created by humans?"

His golden eyes flicked to her face again and she held her breath at the intensity of his gaze.

"By priestesses like you."

Kagome gasped.

"What?"

He was avoiding looking at her again. Kagome took one of his hands and squeezed it gently.

"So are we enemies?" she asked in a whisper, dreading his answer.

"Your ancestors and mine fought for centuries," Inuyasha unclenched his fist and placed her palm over his, watching the size difference with curiousity. "The priestesses used their powers to purify and destroy all the yōkai whenever they approached a human city."

Kagome blinked, confused, and her heart skipped a beat when his fingers closed over her hand. She watched his long and sharp nails in silence, thinking how easy it would be for him to take a human life.

But he hadn't done it once.

She looked at him again and saw that his face showed concern.

"I told you it's complicated," Inuyasha added with a sigh. "It would be best if you saw the blood pact for yourself."

"Blood pact?"

"Forget it," he tugged on her hand until Kagome rested her head on his shoulder. "You don't have to worry about that now."

He stroked her arm with his nails without letting go of her hand.

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. She closed her eyes, enjoying the caresses Inuyasha was leaving on her skin, and didn't speak again until he rested his chin on her head and she heard him inhale.

"Inuyasha."

"Hmm?"

"What are you doing?"

"You smell good."

A blush spread across her cheeks and Kagome swallowed.

It was the first time he had mentioned her scent since they had talked about what it meant to be mates. And she knew his nose was especially sensitive.

"I'm not wearing cologne today."

Inuyasha chuckled softly and slipped an arm around her back, wrapping it around her.

"I know."

Kagome rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes again. It was so warm and comfortable, she could sleep like that.

"Does it bother you when I use it?" she asked in a whisper.

"No."

Kagome smiled, turning her head until her nose brushed his neck.

"Now you just have to meet my friends."

She heard a long sigh from Inuyasha just before she fell asleep.

"Something tells me that won't be so easy."

Saturday came earlier than expected, and Kagome had been a nervous wreck since she had woken up.

She put the food in the oven and sighed, wiping the sweat from her brow with the sleeve of her shirt.

She smiled as she heard someone's footsteps coming down the stairs and turned just in time to see Inuyasha entering the living room.

This time he was wearing human clothes and had tied his silver-white hair into a high ponytail, just as he did when he was in his human form.

"Hi."

"Hello, Inuyasha."

He shoved his hands in his pockets, averting his gaze, and Kagome smiled as she realised he was still too shy to approach her.

She moved forward until she was in front of him and stood on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

His own were soon around her waist.

Kagome felt a shiver as his tongue licked her bottom lip before brushing against hers.

The flames she felt inside her veins every time they kissed clouded her mind, and she had her chest pressed against his without realising it.

Kagome broke the kiss, gasping over his lips.

"You can kiss me whenever you want. You know that, right?" she asked, opening her eyes.

Inuyasha smirked, resting his forehead against hers.

"I know it now."

His lips claimed hers before she could answer. Kagome let herself go, kissing him back with the same intensity and moaning softly when he buried both hands in her hair.

The doorbell startled them both.

"My friends," she said, trying to catch her breath and resting both hands on his chest.

Inuyasha nodded and stepped back.

The doorbell rang again and Kagome sighed, stepping out into the hallway to open the door. Sara jumped at the sight of her.

"Kagome!"

She smiled, hugging her back. Even though they saw each other every day at the hospital, her friend still greeted her as if they hadn't seen each other in weeks.

"Hello," she hugged Sango as well and stepped aside to let them enter the house.

"Is he here?" Sara asked quietly.

She didn't have to reply. Inuyasha left the room, standing at the end of the hall with a serious look on his face.

Kagome knew he was expecting a bad reaction from her friends, and he wasn't wrong.

Sara gasped, holding a hand to her lips.

"Fuck," Sango instinctively placed a hand on the gun on her hip and Inuyasha tensed, clenching his fists.

"Sango," Kagome hissed, gripping her arm. "Be nice."

They exchanged a glance and Sango snorted, crossing her arms.

"I'll try."

Sara strode down the hallway with a big smile.

"Hello, Inuyasha!" she greeted, wrapping him in a hug. "I'm so grateful for what you did for me."

Inuyasha wrinkled his nose but didn't move until she pulled away and looked him in the eye.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You must not be very used to hugs," Sara added, pulling away to give him space.

His eyes searched for Kagome.

"Only hers."

She let out a nervous giggle, lowering her gaze to hide her blush. Sango rolled her eyes and followed Sara, who had already entered the room.

They each sat in one of the armchairs while Inuyasha and Kagome occupied the sofa.

Sango narrowed her eyes at the sight of her friend holding one of Inuyasha's hands and gave him a hard look.

"So you're a demon."

"Half-demon," he corrected with a scowl. "I can smell your hatred."

Sango rested her elbows on her knees, staring at him.

"You wanted to kill my friend."

The silence that followed her words was stony. Inuyasha didn't deny it, but he didn't try to defend himself either. Sango watched him for a moment and clicked her tongue, averting her gaze.

"I don't trust you."

"Sango!" Kagome protested.

Inuyasha was growing tenser and tenser. She laced her fingers with his, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb to show her support.

"What! You can't expect me to trust him after all that has happened!" Sango hissed angrily.

"I do!" Kagome replied, lowering her voice as she saw that Inuyasha had his ears flattened against his head. "I trust him."

Sango leaned her back against the armchair and pressed her lips together, ending the argument.

Kagome relaxed her posture and felt Inuyasha do the same beside her. She released his hand to pour the tea she had prepared into four cups.

"The food will be ready in a few minutes."

Sango nodded, taking one of the cups, and Sara cleared her throat.

"May I ask a question?"

Kagome looked at her friend and she smiled, fixing her gaze on the half-demon sitting next to her.

"What does it mean that you and Kagome are mates?"

Inuyasha let out a long sigh, running his claw through his long ponytail.

"I was never interested in anyone until I saw her," he admitted, lowering his gaze to his blue cup.

Kagome hid a smile behind her own.

"Me neither," she acknowledged in a whisper.

"We had to meet. It was written in the stars," Inuyasha continued softly. "Yōkai have only one mate, and when they find her they never part from her again."

The night before he had told her that some demons could read the future in the sky, though not everything they saw always came true.

Sara rested her chin on one of her hands.

"That's very romantic," she sighed as she swept her gaze between the two of them.

Sango snorted, shaking her head.

"It sounds more like a curse to me."

Her brow furrowed as he heard Inuyasha's soft laughter.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked with a scowl.

He finished his drink in one gulp and set the cup down on the table, fixing his golden gaze on Sango.

"I thought so too after I saw her for the first time."

Sango arched an eyebrow. That had piqued her curiosity.

"So it's inevitable?"

That was a question Kagome wanted to know the answer to as well.

If they were destined... Could she have prevented all of this from happening?

Could she not have fallen in love with Inuyasha?

The demon crossed his legs on the sofa. Kagome was beginning to suspect that was his favourite position.

"The bond can be ignored. Believe me, I tried at first," he admitted in a raspy voice, giving Kagome a sidelong glance. "We both would have lived long and normal lives, but we would have always felt..."

"Incomplete," Kagome finished for him.

She knew exactly what he meant.

"Yes," Inuyasha looked down at her, grazing the skin of her shoulder with his nails to get her attention. "Did you feel it too?"

Kagome nodded. It was all starting to make sense.

The lack of interest in her school and college classmates, the fascination she felt for the forest, the feeling that something was calling to her from within...

She had been waiting for Inuyasha all her life without knowing it.

"I've always felt like I was missing something," she murmured, placing her hands in her lap and looking at Sara from the corner of her eye. "I never imagined that something would be watching me from inside the Demon Forest."

Her friend had felt the same way since she was very young, and now they knew what it meant. That powerful yōkai she had once seen was probably her destined mate as well.

Kagome and Sara stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity until she broke contact.

"I have more questions," her friend murmured. "Do you only become human one day every month?"

Inuyasha looked at Kagome with narrowed eyes.

"Did you tell them?" he hissed through his teeth.

His hands were shaking. Kagome grabbed the one closest to her again.

"Relax," she stroked it with her fingertips, trying to help him calm down. "You can trust them, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha ran his tongue over his fangs as he eyed the other two humans warily.

"I'm nothing to them," he growled, looking back at her. "They could use my weakness against me."

Kagome shook her head.

"They would never betray me."

Sara and Sango nodded, confirming her words.

"Your secrets are safe with us, Inuyasha," Sara promised.

He took a deep breath and released it slowly, squaring his shoulders.

"I'm only human on new moon nights," he admitted softly.

Kagome smiled and kissed his cheek. She knew how hard it was for Inuyasha to trust others, and to see him trying so hard with her best friends meant a lot to her.

Sara clapped her hands together as a big smile spread across her face.

"You must come with us next week! We're going out together, and Sango's boyfriend is coming too."

Kagome glanced sideways at Inuyasha. It was only six days until the next moonless night.

"That's a very good idea," Sango opined with a mysterious gleam in her eyes. "Miroku is going to love meeting you."

Her heart raced at the thought of spending another night at the disco with him. She still shivered at the memory of the way Inuyasha had looked at her that time... and her body's reaction to hearing his husky voice for the first time.

"Will you spend the next new moon night with us?"

Inuyasha stared at her for a while before answering her question.

"Okay."