K. Here goes chap10; I hope you won't get tired of all this fluffiness. I'm just in a romantic mood, and I've… well WE'VE all been waiting so long for Inuyasha to DO something about his feelings towards poor Kagome, that I simply HAD to do this. I merely gave him a nudge! Also, sorry about the weird spacing, the line...whatever that thing is... isn't working on my page... anymore. The bastard!
CHAPTER 10 – Love's enduring promise
Her breath was even, although shallow. Her eyes were closed, as they were since this afternoon, when he had awoken at her side. Her wrists were tied with white, faintly blood stained bandages, and her clothing a tad dirty. But she was well. She was sleeping. He looked upon her form with sadness, and sighed. Her face was pale and had lost the glow it normally held. It was painful to see her like that. She had always bee the embodiment of energy and health.
He gently reached out and stroked her black hair, grimacing from the slight pain he felt in his ribs. He was healing quickly, and the pain was lighter now, he was able to move freely and even stretch his body. He didn't like standing still. It gave him the sensation he was useless. Luckily, he was a fast healer.
White bindings were covering portions of his body, but there was really no further need for them to be there. Sango had insisted for him to keep them, and he complied, reading the worry in her eyes. He figured the taijia had been dead worried because of them all. Maybe even his stupid brother…
Inuyasha's heart felt heavier at that thought. He would not think about his brother like that, from this day forth. He had saved them. He allowed Kagome to shoot holy energy through his body, which by itself said something, let alone the horrible pain he must have felt with this action. He was a full demon, and Inuyasha remembered how much it had hurt him, a hanyou, to fell her power.
And then, Sesshoumaru was the one who carried them both back, after the battle. It was obvious… He couldn't hate the damn bastard now, even if he wanted to!
He took a look at Kagome, who was sleeping soundly, and noticed her dirty clothes, a few bruises on her skin, and that her hair still had traces of dirt and dried blood. She wasn't a pretty sight, but at least she wasn't in any life endangering situation anymore.
"Thank God!" he couldn't help saying, slowly letting out air afterwards. The memory of his utter panic when he had discovered that he couldn't carry her shot up his chest and he felt suffocated, for a second. He had never thought of Sesshoumaru, then. He didn't take into consideration the fact that his brother could carry her back. It just didn't seem plausible.
Life had a way to shake his beliefs, every time he thought them properly set. He gave out a little smile of acknowledgement.
Then, her eyes opened slowly, as if they would shake off an unseen weight. He stuck his gaze on her face and waited in silence. Kagome swallowed and licked her lips, barely aware of her surroundings. She frowned and slightly turned her head, forcing her eyes open. She blinked a few times, and then cleared her throat.
"Inuyasha…" she mumbled, and he gently touched her shoulder, still having his other hand over her hair.
"I'm here, Kagome." Was all he could say, as he thoroughly inspected her appearance too see of any sign of distress. She seemed okay, though. A little weak, but that was to be expected.
She tried to stand up on her elbows, but found that her muscles wouldn't quite listen to her. She sat beck down with a sigh, and a vague sound of discontent. She hated being helpless. Suddenly, her memory sprung up and she was invaded by all these questions.
"He's got the jewel, doesn't he?"
"Naraku?" Inuyasha said.
"Uhm… yes, but not all of it. We still have the two shards Sesshoumaru gave you…" he continued.
Her eyes widened and she hurriedly asked: "Oh my God, is he okay?" The concerned look upon her face drove Inuyasha to feeling the burn of jealousy in his gut, but he tried to disregard it and slowly stroked her hair while responding.
"He's fine. He's brought us back here… Damn bastard wouldn't die if an army of Kagomes would trail over him!" His faint smile reassured Kagome, and she breathed more at ease, slightly blushing at the thought of being carried by Sesshoumaru, in a state on unconsciousness.
"Uhm… How long has it been?" she whispered, noticing the dim light outside, and not knowing if it was dusk or dawn.
"Well, the sun's supposed to be up soon so… I guess this is the second day now. You weren't out for that long…" he answered, and his loving gaze filled Kagome with peace and calm.
"Are you feeling well? Do they hurt?" he asked, his voice swimming in worry and his tone endearing. He took a glimpse at her bandaged wrists, and her own eyes followed his.
"Don't move your fingers anymore. Try to keep them still, the wires cut really deep, and…" he managed to say before she cut him off.
"Oh, God, they cut through my tendons!" She flinched and grunted.
"This will take a while… I mean… to recover. I won't be shooting my bow for a while…" she gave him an apologetic look, and he instantly dismissed her attempt.
"Don't worry, that's not important now. You just get better. Kaede said the wires held a spell which didn't allow your wounds to close, but she managed to repel it. They should heal in due time."
Kagome was impressed at his sudden show of care. 'He must have really been scared he would lose me.' She thought.
Smiling ever so faintly, she whispered out her idea.
"How about a nice bath?" His eyes narrowed a little. "I'm covered in dirt and dried blood, as much as Kaede and poor Sango tried to wash them off me. So how 'bout it?"
He gave her an unsteady look.
"But you can't use your hands." He said, reluctantly.
She rolled her eyes and shot him a look of intent.
"That's why I'm asking you for a bath, Inuyasha…" She raised an eyebrow and the hanyou knew she must be feeling a whole lot better if she came up with those kind of ideas!
Kagome wasn't forgetting why she had wanted to leave Sengoku Jidai in the first place, and was still pretty certain that Inuyasha was as confused as ever. But she sucked it up, and decided that if seven years of it didn't kill her, one more day certainly wouldn't. So she granted Inuyasha this small amount of time, hoping he would not disappoint her.
"Sure." He said, and a serious look took over his features. She would have expected him to throw a slick smile at her, like he would always do, when she made such a tempting offer. But he was being serious, and it surprised her. Not that she was in any condition of engaging in their passionate and… well… tiresome intercourse, anyway!
Her muscles ached and she was feeling weakened from the loss of blood. But he did not seem to mind being the brainy one, for a change, and nodded lightly before scooping her up. She kept her arms at a rest on her chest, as he made his way to the door.
"Don't forget my backpack, please." Inuyasha slightly bent to grab her backpack and he exited into the dim light of the approaching sunrise. The warm breeze soothed Kagome's senses, and she took in a deep breath, feeling the light smell of sakura no hana.
The hot springs were nearby, so Inuyasha didn't have to carry her very far, although he was glad he could do so, this time around. Her head rested calmly on his chest, and he could feel her even breathing as he carried her into his arms. She didn't say a word until the springs were in sight.
"Oh, that's so nice." She sighed, and smiled gently. He looked down at her, pleased that she was feeling well. Seemingly, there was no other thought on his mind at the moment. All he could think of was getting her better. His entire world spun around this girl.
"Do you think you can stand for a minute?" he asked, and her nodding gave him the answer. He gently and gradually put her on her feet, and she clutched to his clothing for a second, before holding her ground.
"Take these things off me." She whispered, and Inuyasha wordlessly began to unbutton her shirt. His hands were steady, and no unnecessary movements came from him. She eyed him, attentive, but he only looked at her clothes and the bruises on her body. Her pale blue shirt fell to the ground, and she felt the cool breeze brushing her bare back and arms.
She got goosebumps on her skin, as his fingers ran over the burning marks that Naraku's hands had left behind. He frowned for a second, but decided not to disturb her with any further recollection of that day.
His arms went around her body and Kagome's chest touched the fabric of his red haori. She felt the bra as an uncomfortable contraption. Her ribs ached a little. She heard the zipper of her skirt, and felt it glide down her legs and dropping around her ankles. She didn't wear any stockings, so she stood there in only her panties and her bra, with his arms still around her.
His breath was heavy, and his movements deliberately slow, she could tell. Kagome had no idea why this was making her so nervous! It wasn't like he hadn't… touched her before! The silence of it all was so thick that you could cut through it with a knife, although their heartbeats were powerful and fast.
The sight of her broken body gave Inuyasha the sensation of a punch in the stomach.
'If only I hadn't run away, that day! If only I had forced her to listen to me! If only… I had treated her better all of these years…'
His arms slowly closed on her form, and he pulled her closer, sinking his face in the gap between her shoulder and her jaw, breathing her scent. It was still there, with all the blood and dirt covering her skin.
His heart skipped a beat, and he took in a short and violent breath, closing his eyes tightly. Kagome just let herself be embraced, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Inuyasha was never this… intense.
"I'm so sorry, Kagome! I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you…" he spoke, his face still hidden. She gave a small, soft smile, and lightly stroked his silvery hair, ignoring the pain in her wrist.
"I'm okay, Inuyasha." She whispered, and felt his grasp tighten a bit. 'Is he shivering?' Her eyes widened a little.
"No. You're not. Look at this… Look at your beautiful, frail body and what that bastard's done to you…" She wanted to say something to reassure him, but his words silenced her.
"But you know what's worse?" he pushed her back a little, to look into her eyes. It would be difficult, but he had to do it. Otherwise, she would still go home after this was all over. He had another chance. Now was the time.
"What's worse, Kagome, is that what I've done to you holds more cruelty that anything that could hurt your body. Your wounds of flesh will heal, but my insecurity and my constant pressure on you caused a wound that you cannot close by yourself."
His eyes were sad, but determined, as a look of steadiness was engraved on his features. Kagome was shocked. He had never been so serious. Of course, there would be times in which he had felt scared about her safety… But those times were long gone, and the routine of every-day life had made him take her for granted.
Even with that, Kagome could have put up, but the comparison to Kikyo… after all this time! That she could not stand. Will not stand. Enough was enough. But now… he was pleating forgiveness, and he looked so caught in guilt, that she simply could not push him away.
The moment of silence before she spoke took all eternity, and felt heavier that the sky falling upon them both.
"I'm not Kikyo, Inuyasha. I never was, and God knows I will never be her." He tried to say something but stopped while taking in air, seeing that she wasn't finished.
"I understand you've loved her, but Inuyasha, her love for you wasn't that strong if she hurried to think that you could do those horrible things! I could never think that. Nothing in this entire world could bring me to believe that you would hurt me for that jewel!"
Her faint voice was nonetheless very determined, and he instantly knew she was right. An inward smile rose within him realizing that she always was right.
"I know." He said, and brushed her cheek affectionately. She just gazed up at him.
"There's no point in clinging to the past. I've made a perfect image of Kikyo inside my mind… and I've been desperately clutching onto it. Now I know it was wrong to do that. However it would have been, or however it was, it is gone now." He said, and gave her the ghost of a smile.
Kagome knew it was difficult for him to acknowledge Kikyo's definitive death. She wasn't expecting any miracles. Inuyasha couldn't just disregard his past with the miko, but at least he was on the right track.
She nodded, and kissed his forehead.
"You'll be just fine." She said softly, meeting his sad gaze. He seemed faintly amused.
"And even now, all you think about is me. How will I feel, how will I get over this… You're amazing, you know that?" his words drove a shudder of delight through her body.
"Let's give you that nice bath." His soft voice made Kagome smile, and she watched as he took off his upper clothing. Inuyasha carried her into the water, slowly seating her on some water polished rock and standing in front of her, his arms still sustaining her body.
She held her wrists out of the water, and after a quick look of approval from Kagome, he reached for her bathing supplies, placing them nearby. The air was cool, and the water hot, and Kagome felt blissful. Inuyasha's arms held her gently, minding her wounds, although none of them seemed to hurt anymore, aside from the ones on her wrists.
After all, all she had were a few bruises and those burn marks from Naraku.
He leaned her head down and let her hair soak in the water, holding her body afloat. A clawed hand slowly passed through her hair and Inuyasha felt like he was touching silk. Her eyes were wide open and locked onto his face.
He was so serious! So taken with his own movement, and her wet, floating strands of hair, detangling them in the hot water. His face was perfect, and the rising sun shot orange and purple rays upon his skin from one side.
The shades and light dancing on his beautiful face and in his gold eyes gave her the impression he was a creature out of this world. The half demon, half human who looked like an angel… her heart suddenly felt light, and something took a stunning turn inside her, while she was looking at his face.
This was their perfect moment, and she couldn't ask for more that that. She was human, he was half human. They were both flawed, and could not build a lifetime of perfection. She knew it all too well. But they were allowed to have moments like this one. Their moments of perfection, in which Inuyasha looked like an angel, and she felt like she was being touched by one.
Kagome knew she loved him. She had known it for seven years. But only now had she realized how deep this love had nested into her soul. She wanted to cry for nothing in particular, just looking at him. It was ridiculous! She had never been so emotional before. At least not in the last years. Maybe the routine had gotten to her too…
By the time she woke from her daydreaming, he had finished washing her hair, and rinsing it, and was now looking at her wide-eyed. She blinked, and he pulled her hair out of the water, reaching for a towel to dry it, and then tying it up, so that it wouldn't get wet again.
His hands on her skin and hair made Kagome aware of every portion from her body, in a strange manner. Nobody would have thought, from the way he wielded that sword, that his hands were so soft, that his touch was this light. Those claws were veritable weapons, she knew it, but when they went over her skin, she felt exposed, she felt vulnerable and caressed, not threatened.
Kagome felt a little awkward, and realized she was still wearing her undergarments. She swallowed, and focused on his mouth, for God knows what reason!
"…Off." Was all she said slightly moving her shoulders, and Inuyasha gave out a small breath of air, resting his fingers on her skin.
His arms went around her back and undid the bra, sliding the straps down her arms, until the small piece of clothing left her breasts bare and half underwater. Inuyasha had to hold back the urge to keep his hands on her body, and he put the bra on the shore instead. His movements were almost hypnotic… Either that or the steam was getting to her head.
His hands glided down the sides of her waist and caught her hips, carrying down her panties. She was shivering in hot water, and he was doing a tremendous effort not to wrap his arms around her to feel her close. He knew she was still weak and in no condition to sustain any kind of effort. Not even that kind of effort.
The silence of their interaction was charged with some kind of electricity, and some kind of waiting, as if the lightest touch could have brought them both down in flames. He was moving soapy hands over her body, and she was just standing there with her arms up and lightly distanced from her chest, allowing him access.
Kagome was blushing every ten minutes or so, even if there was really no part of her body unknown to him. Still, they had never been in this situation before, and Kagome had always been somewhat shy. However, Inuyasha seemed to take his job very seriously. Occasionally, his hands would linger on her neck, on her waist or shoulders, pulling her to rest on his chest.
Soon enough, she was clean and she almost felt sorry. Inuyasha turned her around and silently passed a wet hand over her face a few times, wiping away the remainder of dust and blood on her chin and forehead. Kagome's eyes were wide open and staring at him intensely. He gave her a warm smile.
"You're the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life." She instantly went crimson, and he widened his smile.
"Why do you still do that?" he said gently, and caught her chin, raising her face to his eyes. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Inuyasha slowly leaned over her and moved her to rest against him, then closed the remainder of distance between them, placing a light kiss on her lips.
They were both ran through by seemingly the same shiver, and Kagome went limp for a moment, into his arms. The kiss was so gentle, yet so powerful, that she could feel her head spinning, and her entire body burning. The places in which their skin touched sent darts through her and him both.
It was more that a physical contact. It didn't matter that much that she had her bare breasts against his chest. It was her, she was there in his arms, and he was there to hold her. That was all that really mattered. She put her arms around his neck and moved her tongue over his lips. Inuyasha growled and deepened the kiss, which took at least a century. Or so it seemed.
Clothing her was giving the hanyou more trouble than he would have thought possible. He had never done this before. She would always clothe herself, and it felt a little awkward to do it himself.
Kagome was certainly getting a kick out of watching him putting her T-shirt on. She had had the mercy not to ask of him to put her bra on. She figured it would be too much for his… self control. But panties she had to wear. Her shyness went flying out the window watching him as he pulled the underwear up her endless legs, and closing his eyes when he reached the place.
She could almost laugh, but she didn't want to offend him. Well, this was new. Inuyasha was shy too! She couldn't hold back a giggle, as he stood up in front of her.
"You're really enjoying this, I see." He said, his voice a little husky. She simply smiled and tilted her head to the side. He rolled his eyes and looked aside, at her backpack.
"Would you like a skirt or pants?" Kagome was still amused, and looked at him with playful eyes. He was staring at her backpack. She froze when his head suddenly turned to her, and his eyes speared her with a lustful gaze from under his eyebrows.
"Kagome. Don't push my limits, please. I do have them very well set. Do you think this was easy?" She swallowed and felt her heartbeat accelerate.
"Jeans. There." She pointed at the jeans, which were out from the bag, and he proceeded to dressing her. Once her zipper pulled up and her button in place, he seemed more at ease.
"Sorry…" she said, giving him a shy smile. He shook his head a little.
"Just wait a few more minutes, I have to clean myself too." And without any more ado, he turned and dropped his clothing to the ground. Kagome almost closed her eyes, and mentally gave herself a kick. She had had the same reaction as he did.
"Oh, there they are!" Sango said, relieved, turning halfway towards Kaede.
"Where have you two…" she started, but instantly went red and stopped. Inuyasha gave her a slick smile, passing by her with Kagome into his arms.
"I just wanted a bath, Sango." Kagome said, not minding the look on Inuyasha's face.
"Oh." The taijia whispered. 'I'm such a baka!' she said to herself. Of course Kagome would want a bath, but when she had entered the hut this morning and found it empty, she immediately thought of the worst.
"Are you feeling okay, dear?" Sango asked, and Kagome nodded, smiling.
"I am now." She winked and laughed when Sango widened her eyes and lightly put a hand over her mouth.
"Kagome! Really…" the older woman said, and Kagome realized that no matter how shy she was, Sango would forever be ahead of her.
Kagome's recovery was well greeted by Miroku and especially Shippo, who had to make an effort not to jump into her arms as soon as he saw her. His joy was obvious though, and Kagome allowed him to embrace her, as soon as she was comfortably seated on a rocking chair, outside the house.
She had insisted to having a rocking chair, and she begged a carpenter to build it, the explaining taking a lifetime, as the man could not understand why on Earth would anybody want a chair that did not sit still!
It was mid-morning now, and she rejoiced just talking to everyone. Sango tried to cheer her up, and Kaede told her about how she could focus her power into her wrists, to heal herself faster, while bringing her something to eat.
Even with that, Kagome still shot glances towards Inuyasha, who was leaning against a wall, looking at her.
Kagura couldn't sit still. She was fuming. Not only her plan did not work, but now Naraku had the almost completed jewel, and that miko was resting unconscious, almost dead! This was infuriating… and frustrating! Was every attempt she had destined to fail this miserably? All she wanted was her freedom, so that she could part from Naraku's schemes, so that she could not be forced to do so much killing, and so much bloodshed…
It was never her wish. She had been a puppet, but she was forced to comply, because the alternative would have been death. She was knelt on her feather, drifting without any aim, when a white figure caught her eye. She instantly knew it was him. She could feel the tug at her heart stating that it was him. And he wasn't alone.
'What's he doing here?' A girl stood in front of him, looking at the waterfall. Kagura felt her heart tighten.
Her eyes rested on his form, realizing that she could barely shake the fascinating feeling inside her, every time she saw Sesshoumaru. Her eyes simply widened and she looked at him avidly. She had never felt this way in her life. He was like a ray of hope.
She watched in dread as he made his way in front of the girl, and caressed her cheek. Her inside screamed a pained call when he leaned to that human and placed a kiss on her lips, embracing her. Kagura felt as if somebody had hit her over the face, and her eyes stung, disturbing her vision.
Rage gathered up inside the Wind Sorceress, as she witnessed the kiss. She didn't even notice the wind roaming about her form, and the dark clouds she involuntarily called with that wild air stream.
Looking around her, she realized what she had done, and a sudden desire for revenge rose inside her.
'Who does she think she is?'
"Unworthy human!" she whispered venomously, and opened her fan to draw dark clouds beneath her. She closed her eyes, focusing on the beautiful clearing in which the pair stood, wishing that a lightning would hit the damned human.
As if at her command, a violent storm raged out from the clouds now covering the sky, and the clearing was destroyed. She took an ill pleasure out of seeing the human cry the death of those stupid butterflies, and she showed a vicious smile at the sight. Kagura clenched her teeth and swiftly turned her feather around.
'Sesshoumaru doesn't belong to anybody! Least of all a human!' The word was as unclean as a word could be, in her mind, and tears lingered on her eyelashes as she flew further from him.
End of chapter 10... 'Cuz the damn thing won't work! Exasperating, really!
A.N. I think I'll change the rating on this thing… Yes, I'll do that. Hope you still like it, and please please PLEASE send me some reviews! Either good or bad. Next chaps won't be so fluffy, PROMISE! But I had to do this, you know I had to.
Don't hate me because I'm fond of the InuKag couple. They're just too cute together.
Appreciate your reviews and I DO read them with interest, although I may not answer them all. Sorry about that.