A/N: Happy April Fools Everyone!
Hope y'all are enjoying the prankster's fav holiday!
Oh, and I figured I should probably aplogize for the horrendous editing jobs in this chapter and the last chapter. I've been doing it worser ( - heh, I made a new word! ) than usual, but I'm too lazy to do anything about it at the moment, so please just bear with me on that.
Wasn't expecting to get this chapter up this soon, but since it's the first of the month and a holliday, I figure what the hell?
-Squishy Penguin - Arigato! I'm actually incredibly relieved that everyone seems to think that! I thought for sure I'd gone and made it too sappy or somehting like that...
-Kuroi - Almost? Almost? sighs I am loosing my touch, aren't I? Lol, still I'm glad ( -- If I use that word one more time... Well, I don't know what's gonna happen, but it's gonna be bad!) that you enjoyed the chapter though! -- Yeah, it was uncomfortable, but it's gone now. I have absolutely no idea what caused it though, but... Lol, now I'm probably making people worry about my sanity...
-Bluer Sky - Lol, I don't know what I would have said if I hadn't had them making out, so really they had no choice but to shove their tongues down each other's throats!
-xolovexinuyasha - Yeesh, that sounds bad. You know that's just stupid though! Just because there are more people on the teams, doesn't mean you should make the ball heavier! It is not any easier to hit because there are more people to run into! Demented, idiotic, stupid, arm-hating... Morons! Lol, sorry, this response is moving in a kind of erratic manner, and I'm afraid I'm not really responding to what you said in any particular order. Gomen! -- What an idiot! Your teacher should always tell you first and give you a chance to get better! Fuck! I hate teachers like that. I had one once, she actually made more than one person cry during class, she never explained anything, and then she was a total bitch and humiliated anyone who didn't know the proper answer. Hopefully yours will meet a similar fate and be fired. -- Hm. That kinda sucks. You studied all that and got a D? I wish I could help ya in some way, but... really, I think I'm in a different country than you so I'm not sure what I could do... -- Yes, doors do tend to hurt when you walk into them. The trick is to hit them so hard and fast that you either take the door off it's hinges, or knock yourself unconscious so you don't feel it anymore. -- Lol, I'm glad to hear that your desk went together easier than before, and that you're getting a new computer. I use a Window 98 as well, and that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. I have speakers on it though, so that's a plus. It definitely has an advantage over my old computer though, which couldn't get the internet. Still, hopefully the new one will make your life a little more easy to bear, neh? -- And I'm glad my story made you laugh! Anything to brighten up the day! -- And yes, you have taught me a very valuable lesson in life. Not that it really did anything, since I never play volleyball anyway. Everybody can tell you to play just to have fun, but I, personally, don't see the fun in a sport where you whack a ball until your arms fall off and try not to get hit in the head with it or be knocked over when everyone else is running around trying to hit the ball as well. -- ANyway, now to the actual recent part of your review: You didn't know I could write like that? Lol, well neither did I since I have no idea what I wrote. That's kinda a thing with me, I never remember what I've written two seconds after I've written it. Still, if it made you cry... (And don't worry, you're not the only one apparently )!
-Wish-Full Thinker - Bleargh. I kept misspelling your name! Wish-full Thinkier! For some reason I just couldn't stop hitting the I! -- Lol, okay, now to the review. Yeah, I'm sorry if I was narrating a lot. I don't think I'll ever have any given style of writing though, y'know? I can be descriptive one chapter, and then narrating the next, and then doing it in an entirely different style the next. I think I just prefer to write it from inside the characters head without it being from their POV, if that makes any sense. Sorry if that makes it less enjoyable for you.:( -- Where will the story go? That's a good question... if you find the answer, let me know, cause I have no idea.
-Ania24 - Lol, well then I'm glad I met your expectations!
-ultimateromantic - Lol... um... thanks?
-Kitsama - Yeah... WAFF... ... Lol, I'm really much more of an angst person myself, but I guess in the end there's nothing to be done about that...
-Black Betty - Yeah... I somehow just couldn't find it in myself to kill one of them so soon... though, if I had, it probably would have been Kagome.
-Clouds of the Sky - Lol!... Wait... you're joking... right?... OO... EEP! Lunges under desk -- Lol, do newborn babies smile a lot on the fourth of July?
-Wings of Fayth - Well wait a minute, why do either of them have to kill them? Maybe they'll kill them, or maybe they'll just be recaptured again, or maybe only one will die, or maybe they'll just kill themselves, or maybe... Lol, okay, I'm done now. -- I don't know if I'll have a lemon... I haven't actually written any Kag/Inu lemons before so that would be interesting... Guess we'll just have to see how it goes. -- What's gonna happen? Now how the hell would I know that, it's only my story!
-Darking Queen - Lol, well I think people would be kinda confused of what exactly these jewel shards were and stuff like that (since I never explained any of that in this story) but it's nice to know you think I could get it published. I mean that's just... going straight to my head!
-Lord Makura - Lol, did she ever?
-sourapple10000 - Lol, well I don't actually know if I technically have writer's block. I'm getting it in boughts, and then little spurts of time in which I manage to get a chapter out... still, just as frustrating nonetheless.
-Sexy Kat - Lol, lover boy? Well that's a name I never really associated with inuyasha before... Lol. Oh, and don't apologize! There have been more than a few outbursts and a couple of happydances so far this chapter!
-cocoke5 - Lol, Arigato! I'm glad that I've managed to make it so you can actually get a feel of the story an what's happening!
Well, that's just about it for now I guess... Oh, for anyone here who likes Engrish, there's a great website for it: w w w. Engrish . c o m (without the spaces of course) that you can have some fun with.
For the rest of you, I think I'm done ranting now, so I guess it's time to get on with the next chapter.
The Way it Should Be
Inuyasha led Kagome through the castle's many hallways, leaving Sesshomaru and Kirara to deal with Miroku and Sango as he focused instead on the miko now with him.
The air between them as they walked practically crackled with electricity as their aura's collided so strongly after so long apart. The awkwardness was rising slightly between them, but it was drowned out by the comfort they felt, now that they were together once again.
Which left only room for uncertainty.
He cast a glance back at her nervously as he pushed open the door to one of the many spare bedrooms (he never actually slept in any one in particular, finding it strangely comforting to move around from room to room at will) and was slightly surprised to see a fire blazing already, and a small feast laid out on a low table in the centre of the room.
Kagome looked past him at the scene before her, her eyes widening slightly at the warmth and light in the room, as well as all the food... more food than she had seen in a long time.
'Did... did you do all this?' She asked softly, still staring at the room.
Inuyasha shook his head. 'It must have been Sesshomaru... I... didn't know you were coming. He must have gotten someone to set this up.' He said, glancing nervously at her once again, something he had been doing entirely too often for her liking.
Kagome looked over at him and offered a small smile. 'I'll have to remember to thank him.' She said, her voice wavering slightly as a wave of weakness overcame her. She trembled slightly, her legs trying to give out after their unexpected amount of use, and she started to fall.
But Inuyasha was there, and he caught her, quickly lifting her up and moving into the room, setting her down on one of the mats next to the wall by the food so that she could lean back.
She shivered still at the unfamiliar sensations of warmth and light that washed through her as she gazed in amazement at the flames roaring in the fire.
'You're cold!' Inuyasha said suddenly, quickly moving to strip himself of his haori. He wrapped it tightly around her shoulders while she was still blinking in confusion and trying to focus on what he said as he muttered 'Damn sorceress, should have given you something to wear...'
He closed the haori tightly around her chest and shoulders, pausing when her smaller hand came up to meet his, their fingers touching gently as they got reaquianted with one another, and Inuyasha stared at them a moment-- her pale, small, delicate and round (if slightly sharp from the skin pressing against the bone), hand, a perfect contrast against his blunt, rough one for a moment, his ears flicking back in confusion before straightening again as he slowly looked up to meet her eyes.
They were half-lidded and exhausted, smile despite the tears present there, their dark depths flickering with so many emotions... and Inuyasha could feel himself getting lost there very quickly... in the soul that was s familiar but so... strange to him now.
His eyes drifted over the sharp protrusions of her bones that fought desperately to escape the too-thin armour of skin, and his ears went back.
How could he have let this happen?
How could he have failed her-- them all-- like this, and let Naraku do this to them?
Kagome's brow furrowed slightly as the distress and self-loathing leaked into Inuyasha's eyes, and she stiffened slightly.
'Inuyasha.' She said, her voice soft but firm, drawing his golden eyes back to her own, watching them flicker red and auburn in the firelight for a moment, before slowly, gripping his hand in her own shaking one, she drew his palm up, and pressed it flat against the left side of her chest, just above her heart.
Inuyasha's eyes widened, and his cheeks flamed red in embarrasment as he tried, gently but determinedly, to pull his hand away. But Kagome's determination was stronger, and she held fast, pressing both her palms flat on top of his and looking his deep in the eye, and Inuyasha was pinned, frozen, lost again within their dark depths as her heart thudded steadily, strongly against his palm, his own heart thundering in his ears, it's beat flickering and changing to match that beneath his palm.
The hanyou was not certain what sort of message Kagome was trying to send him with this, since his previous thoughts had nothing really to do with hearts or self-induced groping, but somehow... it worked.
Despite that there had been nothing said really, he knew what she meant.
It was alright.
It wasn't his fault.
None of them blamed him.
He swallowed thickly, feeling emotions he couldn't name rising in his throat, trying to form into words, but he refused to let them out, so they moved instead to fill his eyes as shields of tears, one breaking free and falling down to the floor to shatter like liquid crystals.
'Kagome...' He said slowly, his ears going back even further as he felt the words trying to make themselves known, but Kagome shushed him with a finger, before leaning forward and replacing it quickly with her lips.
It wasn't a rough kiss, or even a passionate one, it was simply... there.
Feather-light, just two sets of lips brushing together like the whispering caress of butterfly wings, but it lingered for long eternity-filled seconds, neither trying to deepen it or pull away.
It was simply existing.
Like them.
And when Kagome did finally pull away, Inuyasha felt more breathless than from the kisses she had given him outside.
He stared at her with wide eyes, and she stared back at him calmly, an understanding of some sort passing between them.
The moment was broken when Kagome's stomach, having absolutely no cares for what was going on in her heart or mind, demanded attention (and food) in the form of a loud, rumbling growl.
Inuyasha's ears swivelled toward the noise as Kagome cast a slightly appalled glance at her stomach, her eyes wide, before she looked back up at Inuyasha, smiling at the surprised expression on his face.
'I haven't eaten in a while...' She said slowly.
Inuyasha stared at her a moment, his eyes softening and darkening from their initial surprise, tingeing with sadness once again that Kagome hated to see there.
'Good thing we have lots of food here then, huh?' She asked quietly, keeping her tone as light as she could.
'Yeah...' Inuyasha said, his voice soft and melancholy. Kagome sighed, her own despair rising, and looked around at the food, before her eyes settled on a cup of pure, crystalline water-- something she hadn't seen or tasted in a long time.
She leaned forward to grasp it, only to let out a small wince and barely audible gasp as pain shot through her ribs.
Inuyasha's ears once again focused on the sound and he quickly reached over and grabbed the cup as she leaned back with an exhausted sigh.
Her hand trembled as she reached up to meet his and take the cup, but Inuyasha shook his head, using his free hand to push hers back down.
'Let me do it.' He said softly, staring deeply into her eyes, waiting permission. Kagome stared back at him, slightly surprised, before nodding her head, feeling too weak to protest anyway.
Inuyasha brought the cup forward slowly, tentatively, and pressed it against her lips. Kagome couldn't surpress the small sigh of pleasure as the cool liquid eased it's way over her tongue, down her throat.
It had been so long...
Too long...
And now that she actually had everything she had craved for... she was all but helpless to achieve anything with it.
It was a sad thought, but, when she looked up at Inuyasha, his eyes focused intently on the cup in his hands, his ears twitching gently toward each and every noise, she couldn't help but smile.
Because it gave her an excuse to let him take care of her.
And it gave him and excuse to take care of her as well.
And in their hearts, that's the way they both wanted it to be.
That's the way it was supposed to be after all.
That's the way it should be.
Glossary
Miko - Priestess/Witch (In this case I'm going with the first meaning)
Haori - A type of Japanese coat. (Like the fire-rat one Inuyasha wears)
Hanyou - Half-Demon
A/N: Hm, Hm, I think it only took me an hour this time.
HEAPS OF THANKS AND POCKY FOR: Squishy Penguin, Kuroi, Bluer Sky, xolovexinuyasha (hope your life is going a bit better now), Wish-full Thinker, Ania24, ultimateromantic, Kitsama, Black Betty, Punk Rock Miko2, Clouds of the Sky, Wings of Fayth, Darking Queen, Lord Makura, sourapple10000, Sexy Kat aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand cocoke5 --- These are the completely, totally wonderful reviewers from the last chapter, and the main inspiration for this one!
CMoC - So Far Away - Staind, hanging by a moment - Lifehouse, Follow me - Uncle Kracker, Pounding - The Doves, Godless - The Dandy Warhols, Fukai Mori - Do as Infinity, My Will - Dream, Weapon - The Matthew Good Band, Angels or Devils - Dishwall, First Time - Finger Eleven