A/n: Thank you so much for the reviews. Okay, I must confess that these two past chapters have been the most exciting because I have such a lovely surprise for you all. Read the chapter and see how it goes. Things are going to start getting very heated and very very suspicious. But for now, enjoy this lovely romantic chapter, written especially for the lovers of Inuyasha and Kagome.
Chapter 9--The Garden of Eden...
Inuyasha stood in the doorway, his eyes never wavering. "May I?" he indicted to the room. Kagome moved out of the way, letting him in.
"There are some things that need to be said, but I can't say them here." he confessed.
"Why can't we say them here?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha gave her a skeptical glance, then pointed to the walls. Kagome made an 'O' sound.
"But first, who the hell is Miroku?" Inuyasha demanded, crossing his arms. Kagome shifted her weight. Why did he care? He seemed pretty occupied sucking off Kikyou's neck earlier. As if hearing her thoughts, Inuyasha said, "Sango's curious."
Kagome smirked, fighting to laugh in his face. "Is she now? Well I guess she'll have to just ask me herself."
"Listen, Sango's my best friend and if you do anything to hurt her," Inuyasha started but Kagome cut him off with a glare. "NO. You came here to see how you were. I've already had this conversation with Sango, so its safe to assume you just wanted the answer for your own peace of mind. Don't insult me Inuyasha. I have Kikyou for that."
"Who is he?" Inuyasha asked once more, his anger at its boiling point. Kagome found herself explaining. "He's someone from my past."
"Did you fuck him?" Inuyasha got right to the point, holding his breath for the answer. "That's none of your damn business!" Kagome sneered at him. He had no right, no right so ever jumping into her personal life. "Look, I don't know where you get the balls to ask me these questions but you're over stepping some serious boundaries."
"Don't play all defesive with me wench! Since the day we've met you've been so secretive, forcing me to believe something you aren't. You're hiding something and I want to know what it is, because the more I'm around you, the more your lies sufficate me!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Then DON'T be around me." Kagome snapped back.
"Kagome...did you sleep with him?" Inuyasha asked again, all the anger gone from his voice. He sounded pain-stricken and tired. Softening up a bit, Kagome shook her head. "No. I did not."
With a slight nod, Inuyasha left. Kagome slammed the door behind her. He always got what he wanted. Always. Why the hell was she so submissive to him? It made no sense.
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When my mother was alive, she used to tell me, "Kagome, men are just like moments in a bad movie scene-hesitate, and they'll kill you." Alot of wisdom coming from a strung out heroin addict who worked at a slum down quickie mart for 7.50 an hour. In many ways, I'm alot like my mother. She went from her palace on the hill to marrying for love. From love to hate. From Hate to Confusion...To confusion to depression...from depression to death. Most times, people say it was the drugs that drove her to do unspeakable acts. I believe it was the realization that she was so madly alone, that it was too much to live with. The necklace I'd worn around my neck that year symbolized something. A shikon jewel submerges from the earth's core every 400 years. It was unique, it was rare, undescribable...and in an instant, it was gone.
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"Come on you guys!" Kohaku shouted. The Tanaka family had taken everyone out to the annual winter carnival on Christmas Eve. Sango had convinced Kagome to put on a little make-up and wear a color she'd never wear unless forced-white. Her outfit consisted of a sleek white trench coat, a skin tight turtle neck, a white director's hat and a pair of white baggish cargo pants. Atleast she got to some new black boots. At seeing her new style, Kohaku did a flip, Miroku studdered, and Kikyou was fuming. No one knew where Inuyasha was. He agreed to meet up with everyone later at the carnival.
Miroku grinned in satisfaction as he purchased the bear for Sango. It was a huge cat. " Oh, it's adorable!" Sango cooed, snuggling with her toy. "Hey! What about me?" Miroku whined. "After all, I won it."
"It took you 37 tries!" Sango remarked. " I mean, how hard is it to shoot a duck?" Miroku shurgged. "You were distracting me." Sango blushed. "Uh huh." They walked over to Kagome who was watching Kohaku on the ice.
"Hey beautiful." Miroku greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. Kagome raised a brow. "Are you saying I looked like shit before Sango dressed me up like a poster child?" "N-no." Miroku hurried out. "I was just saying...well, you're beautiful. Always have been...Just like Amaya." He said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Kagome blushed. Miroku surely had a way with words.
Sango felt a hint of jealousy come through as she fought an eye roll. Who's Amaya? And why does he never compliment me like that. Kagome is pretty, but she doesn't look THAT good.'
An applause from the crowd broke her thoughts. Sango's attention darted to the ice rink. Kohaku was holding a pretty girl about his age as people gathered around him. "What's going on?"
"You mean you didn't see that?" Miroku turned to her shocked. " Those guys over there were playing too rough on the ice and Kohaku saved that girl from an ice skate landing in her face."
"He's pretty fast." Kagome stated. She noticed how the young girl seemed to be taken with Kohaku. She had beautiful golden hair, that came to her chin. Her lovely green eyes seemed to catch Kohaku in some kind of trance. Kagome could only grin. Young love was such a beautiful thing to watch bloom. It was the only thing untainted by the age of real world problems.
As sunset came into view, Toshio told everyone to that they were spending Chrismas Eve in the Gardens. Sango was especially excited because she had talked about the gardens for months. The carnival had a tradition however, that carnival came to an end with a 12-sleigh ride around the mountain.
"Step right up folks!" The announcer called. Of course, The Tanaka family had the very first ride because they funded the Christmas Carnival every year.
Toshio and Shinju of course had a magnificent white sleigh with gold trimming. Carved andgels engraved in the handles, and on the back of the sled was a tradition golden partrige in a peartree. Miroku help Sango's hand hand as they jumped in the elegant silver sleigh fit for two turdle doves.
Kohaku was holding the girl's hand as he approached Kagome. "Kagome, this is Megumi. Would you hate me if I, " "No." Kagome cut him off before he could finish. She winked at the girl who blushed.
He had promised Kagome that she was the one he wanted to share the sleigh with but she knew his little crush on her would end soon. Men were fickle. But she wasn't upset. She was flattered that he even considered her in the first place. If he knew who she really was, he wouldn't stand the sight of her.
When Kohaku eyes met hers, as if to make sure, she ushered them with her eyes and a soft smile as the sleigh pulled up. "Go on." Kohaku thanked Kagome with a bow and escorted his date to the bronze sleigh with three french hens on the back.
"My parents would love this..." she mumbled to herself.
When it came down to her, The announcer gave her a questionable stare. "Where's your partner? Surely someone as beautiful as you is not ridding alone." Kagome shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time." The announcer motioned for the fourth sleigh to be brought around.
Kagome turned to watch as the first three sleighs ride off with lovers in them. It would be a very special moment...'for them.' She thought as she felt her heart strings tug.
She turned as the magificent sleigh came into view. All polished black with gold trimmings. Angels carved in gold as they held the four calling birds in one hand and harps in the other. Raiden was on the reigns, clicking his feet in the snowing, signalling he was ready to go. But that's not what caught her attention. A hand extended out the sleigh.
Kagome caught her breath as Inuyasha stared down at her. He was dressed handsomly as his baggy pants cuffed his timberlands. He wore a dark red trench coat over a black turtleneck. "Well don't just stand there. Get in." He told her softly.
"B-but...What about Kikyou?" Kagome asked worried. Not that she gave a damn, but it was Christmas Eve. She didn't want any problems today. Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly. " Couldn't find her."
'Good enough for me!' Kagome thought with excitement as her smile stretched across her face. "Okay." She took his hand and they rode off into the sunset together.
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Yes, I realize now that the answer he gave wasn't good enough, but for someone in my position, I took it as a sign. And for the first time I like singing. That moment was beautiful. The sunset was flawless, the snow glitsend. All those years of loneliness, searching for love in the wrong places...I finally knew what I was looking for. I knew what I wanted. I wanted what my mother had when she married my father. I wanted the look she gave Souta after labour. I wanted a house here in Shikoku. I wanted to go away for long weekends. I wanted a horse, and an over-protective dog. And I want kids;two, maybe three. I wanted to be happy. God had read my heart that day, beacuse in that moment, riding into the sunset with Inuyasha, I honestly believed I could have it. What more could I ask for?
Well, you can't sell your soul to the devil and expect him to keep his word. Whomever said the devil was a lair mustn't have known, that he lives in our only place of salvation. He lives in the only place we run to. He lives in the garden...he lives in the church.
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Inuyasha didn't say much half way through the ride. Not that Kagome minded. She enjoyed the beautiful sunset over the ocean. It was one you didn't see every day.
"About what you said on the ferry...about not falling?" He began calmly, his gaze still on the ocean. Kagome did a slight nod, feeling guilty about her words. She hadn't said them to keep Inuyasha away, but to bring herself back into reality.
"Heh. Look, guys don't like talking about their feeling and shit, so I'll make this clear. I want to be with you. I've wanted to be with you since the very time I saw you and I don't see why you're making this so gotdamn hard because I know you want me too." Inuyasha confessed looking her straight in the eye.
Kagome shook her head. "No. You don't know me." Inuyasha sighed. " I know you more than anyone. I know you only drink green tea, your favorite fruit is strawberry, for some reason you always say a prayer in english, and japanese before you sleep. I know you don't like Sango's rice ball surprise or when you're having a really bad day, you put on Nina Simone and drift off to sleep. Your favorite flowers are orchids, winter is your favorite season and that there's a scar on the lower half of your back."
Wow. Did he really notice that much about her? Could she be wrong? Maybe I can be happy. Just this once.' Kagome didn't know what to say. She wanted this. She wanted him. She could actually be happy!
"Kikyou's going to be furious." Kagome whispered finally. Inuyasha took her hand is his. "I don't care." He came in for a kiss but the sleigh came to a hault. They bumped heads with a slight thud. "Ouch!" They both cried simultaneously.
"We're here!" Shinju giggled. "Welcome to the Ritsurin Park!" Kohaku's date Megumi, jaw dropped. "We're eating here?! My parents tried to get reservations for this place months ago!" Kohaku cockily smiled. "My parents own half of it."
The Ritsurin Park was like the garden of Eden. No knew what was awaiting them inside. Lanterns of soft orange hung from the ceiling. Flowers of every kind surrounded the greenhouse. There was a rock garden that led to a be magnificent waterfall, that glowed every color.
"This way." Toshio guided his family. Everyone was in awe at the snowwhite paradise. Only white orchids, roses, lillies and tulips surrounded them as they sat by the brilliant Christmas tree.
"Shinta, you've outdone yourself this year." Shinju hugged him. "Well, I was feeling the spirit." Toshio smiled.
"Has anyone seen Kikyou? She wasn't at the carnival." Shinju asked a bit worried. Sango rolled her eyes. "The beauty queen is resting. She said she wasn't in the mood for much activity today."
"I guess she doesn't feel well." Shinju frowned. Kohaku shrugged. "Mom, don't worry so much. She may just not be used to the cold weather. I remember I came back from camp, I had the fleu and two colds after that."
"I suppoose. Well anyway, lets eat, then we can tour the gardens." Shinju suggested. The dinner went on without any problems. A lot of laughter and easy going. Kagome was reserved as always, but that was normal.
After the four christmas carol, Kagome's throat became parched. She went over to into the kitchen. Miroku had already beaten her to it. "My throat is killing me." he confessed dryly. Kagome giggled. "Well, Sango loves christmas songs."
"So do you from what I hear." Miroku cut her a glance to see Kagome shift uncomfortably. "Hey, hey. Didn't mean to stir up a bad memory. You do know it's okay to miss her. To miss your brother and your dad."
"That's never been the question Miroku. It's do they miss me?" Kagome asked barely above a whisper. Miroku put is drink down pulling Kagome into a warm hug. "How can anyone not miss you?" He lifted her chin up with his hand. "How can anyone not miss this face? It's one of a kind."
Kagome wrapped her arms around him, returning the hug. "I've missed you Miroku. I've missed you so much." Miroku felt tears wet his shirt. So many years of not being able to see her, talk to her, listen to her laugh, see her smile. And now to be here, in the mist of it all. It was too much to take.
Kagome sniffed as she looked at him. A green thing caught her attention. "Mistle toe." She whispered. "What?" Miroku asked, aimlessly rubbing her hair. Kagome pointed up. Miroku looked above him to see the mistle toe. Without a second thought, he gave her the sweetest, most delicate kiss on her forehead. "Merry Christmas Kagome."
"Merry Christmas Miroku." She said back with a smile.
Their special moment was interupted by none other than Sango. She stood there, arms cross, her eyes ablazing. "Am I interrupting something?"
Kagome glanced at Miroku who seemed to want to disappear. She knew he was so in love with Sango that it made him damn near blind. Miroku sighed. "No."
"Just a moment between friends." Kagome joined in. "I'll leave you two alone." She let go of Miroku, leaving him to his grim fate with Sango. Sango glared at her as she went out the kitchen doors, mumbling, "Should have known."
A few months ago, Kagome would have said something. But something was difference. She felt a peace she hadn't felt in a long time. Taking a breath, she started down the hall to the others, but she heard Sango's voice through the vents from a near by bathroom. Slipping inside, she decided to be a peeping tom.
"What the hell was that?!" Sango screeched.
"Sango, sweetie it was nothing. Kagome just...we go a long way." Miroku answered desperately.
"So do me and Inuyasha, but you don't see us hugged together under the mistle toe!" She screamed.
" We didn't do anything!" He calmly told her.
"Do you have something for her? Be real with me Miroku. I mean there's no need of telling my parents about this if I can't even trust you alone with some cracked out-"
"HEY! That's enough. You have no idea what she's been through Sango. No fucking idea."
"So that's it then. You love her..."
"I do love Kagome. She was there when my father revealed that he had AIDs. She was there when I couldn't deal with my own life. She was there until she couldn't be anymore. I'm not saying she's perfect, but she does understand."
"So I guess there's not enough room for me in the picture. I guess you'll want this back." she said softly.
"Sango...I asked you to marry me because I'm in love with you. YOU. No one else. But understand...I haven't seen Kagome in damn near 10 years. She disappeared. But I wouldn't sacrifice our lives together for anything. You're the only thing that matters. I love Kagome and we have a connection that not even she can explain...but it's just that. We're friends. Not lovers."
There was a pause. Kagome was so afraid that Sango had walked out on him. But then she spoke.
"Let's go tell my parents."
"After the mistle toe."
Relief spread through Kagome as she exited the bathroom. Miroku's engagement was pretty exciting. She'd never dream her perverted little friend would grow up into a perverted fiance. Walking through the hall, she found herself opening the doors to the greenhouse.
Walking through it, she noticed the flowers all in bloom. Giving herself a tour, she came to a small bridge, a soft stream flowing under it. The moon could be seen through the stainless glass above. "Beautiful."
"Yeah...beautiful." A voice came from the shadows. A figure dropped from one of the massive trees in the garden. Inuyasha appeared in the moonlight, his face serious, but a hint of mystery behind is eyes. "Take a walk with me." Kagome agreed by taking his hand.
Most of the night, they danced around the words, 'I want you, I need you, I love you.' Inuyasha talked alot about his childhood, but avoided the subject of his father. She had no idea that he had an older brother. He explained how he met Kikyou and why he was in college, where he worked, and the events that led up to him finding her. Kagome was mostly quiet, enjoying hearing his voice. She did reveal how she knew Shinju, but not much after that.
Inuyasha had found a secluded area of the greenhouse, with a small bench surrounded by flowers. They took a seat, both quiet for a moment. Just enjoying the stars, enoying the peace. It was a bit of heaven, and it would do...for now.
Catching the relection, Inuyasha noticed something glistening around her neck. He barely noticed it before because she always kept it hidden. 'Was she wearing it on the way down here?' He thought to himself. Honestly, he couldn't remember.
"So, what's the story on that necklace?" Inuyasha asked motioning to the chain the disappeared under her shirt. When he felt her tense up, he took her hand in his. "It was just a question. You never take it off. What does it mean to you?"
"There were these pearls that my mother own. My grandma gave it to her when she became of age and told her to only wear them on special occasions. She told me they brought her luck. She was wearing those same pearls when she had met my dad. She was wearing those pearls when she lost her virginity. Well, one day they went missing. She searched the house up and down, going insane and destressed. Daddy promised her that he'd give her something better than pearls. So he gave her this."
Kagome showed him the Shikon necklace, holding it gently in her hand.
"It was his mother's favorite necklace. My mother fell in love with it on sight, and she NEVER took this one off. She was wearing this necklace the day she was married, the day she gave birth to me, every christmas, and she was wearing it the day she died."
"Damn...what ever happened to the pearls?" Inuyasha asked quietly. "Wait. That's neither here nor there. you don't have to answer that." He felt like a complete insensitve jackass for asking about jewelry when she had just revealed that her mother had died.
"I found them. I had them actually. I was dressing up my dolls, and I was wearing the pearls. Sometimes I think she always knew, but didn't have the heart to take them back. I burried her in them. I guess it was to give her good luck in the afterlife. But this," she held up the shikon jewel, "...It's the only thing of hers I have left. It's her legacy." Kagome whispered.
Inuyasha took her by the hand. "You are your mother's legacy. Not the necklace. I was going to wait until christmas to give it to you, but.." He handed her a semi-small red box. "Open it."
Kagome took the box, untying the ribbon slowly. What was in the box could have made her cry. Infact, it did make her cry. It was the music box. She picked it up winding it slowly. As it played Carol of the Bells, tears fled freely down her face.
"Happy birthday." Inuyasha told her gently with the most sincere smile. Kagome could restrain herself as she leaped into his arms kissing him the most passionate kiss she could muster. Caught off balance, Inuyasha fell, with Kagome right on top of him.
He rolled over, regaining dominance as he took over the kiss. Neither of them could barely breathe, as they both wrestle for power. His kisses trailed from her mouth, finding their way to her neck. Kagome let out a soft moan she had been biting back. Was this heaven? It certainly felt like it. 'So this is love...' Kagome began to sing in her head as Inuyasha's hands roamed under her shirt and around her body, setting her skin a-flame.
When the time came to actually have oxygen, they seperated. The glint in Inuyasha's eyes was questionable. Kagome's eyes revealed the answer. Without a word, He began to take off her shirt off. Kagome watched as he examined her chest through the lace see-thru bra. The Shikon nestled snugly at it resting place between her breasts.
Kagome was sort of self concious. She wasn't Kikyou, and Kikyou's breasts looked expensive.She began to cover up when Inuyasha swiftly grasped her hand. "Don't." his gasped.
Inuyasha's lungs was on fire. He'd never seen such a perfect woman before. She wasn't scarred or tatted up like he had imagined. Kagome was damn near flawless. All that was wrong were the rest of the clothes. They needed to come off. He was about to reach for her pants, Kagome warm breath driving him crazy as she kissed on his neck. Then the sound of hell came through...Kagome paused, hearing it too.
"Shit...Kikyou..." he growled.
A/n: Interuptions, Interuptions. Oh well, Next chapter won't be a disappointment. I'm warning you now-next chapter-lemon! So if you don't like reading them, skip over, but I promise, you're missing one hell of a chapter. Thank you again for the reiviews. Luv you guys! Till next time...peace eazy