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Disclaimer: No own InuYasha et cetera et cetera.
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Jizen Kaerizaku
Before I Can Return
Chapter 8 - Admission: Questions Answered
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Mattaki found her in her house, throwing a small rubber ball against a wall and catching it when it came back to her. He watched her do this often when she was stressed or upset, but usually she was talking to him while doing it. Now she wouldn't even acknowledge his existence.
"Why won't you talk to me?" he asked softly, kneeling beside her and peering over at her.
Her mouth twitched but she resolutely kept it shut and flung the ball again, only for Mattaki to catch it before she could, making her hands drop to her sides.
"Talk to me, my Kagome. Why are you so upset over this?"
Tears filled her eyes and overflowed slowly, and it was several long moments before she finally spoke, "So many things. Because InuYasha is an insensitive jerk, because I am an oversensitive idiot, because it stung so badly for him to scream that with such disgust…because it was true."
He quickly stifled the urge to grin foolishly and moved to sit in front of her, taking his hand in hers and running his thumb gently over the backs of her fingers, "You were not being overly sensitive…and I already straightened that boy out. He does feel badly, and he's just as insecure when it comes to you as you are when it comes to him. He screeched at me too you know."
"Over what?" she asked softly, watching his thumb run ever so slowly back and forth across her hand.
He chuckled, making her look up and his grin was playful but genuine, "Because it's rather obvious the affection is returned."
Kagome blushed like a tomato and looked down quickly, trying to hide her face. He released her hand and pushed her chin back up until her eyes met his, "Do you always refuse to acknowledge what is sitting in front it you…err…literally?"
Her blush darkened in time with her eyes and he grinned again and without hesitation leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers lightly, leaning back to meet her eyes again, "Don't be ashamed, please?"
She shook her head, "But it's….this is impossible. I am falling for a ghost. This is…it's wrong and it can't lead anywhere…"
He placed a finger over her lips and patiently waited for her to pay attention to him again, "It is also impossible for a spirit to physically touch, is it not?" she nodded warily, "Well then, since I seem to be in the habit of doing the impossible, why stop there?"
She smiled tiredly and laughed, "Only you, Mattaki."
"Of course only me, who else could be so refreshingly original?" he leaned in and kissed her again, this time lingering long enough for her to kiss back before pulling away, "Will you come with me? I need to see my son about a flea…"
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Kagome walked sullenly to InuYasha's hut, Mattaki prodding her along from behind. She really didn't want to face her friend right now, but a certain youkai just wouldn't leave it. He was sure there was something more to this, and wanted the advice of his once trusted, though cowardly, advisor. She rang the bell once and accepted the embrace offered from behind, leaning into Mattaki's chest and looking up at him by arching backward, "You owe me for this."
"Kagome?" a pregnant Kikyou answered the door and blinked at her reincarnation. The girl smiled a little forlornly.
"Hi Kikyou, did InuYasha come back here yet?"
The older woman sighed, "No, did you two fight again?"
"Kinda…"
The former priestess narrowed her eyes, "There is no 'kinda' with you two. Now, can I help you with what you need?"
Kagome frowned but met her eyes, "Do you know if Myouga is around or has been? I need to speak with him badly."
"Actually…" Kikyou answered, turning back and screeching for the flea to come out. She turned back and smiled as if she hadn't just pierced the sound barrier with her voice, "He was here last night, so I think he still is…but you know him…" she grumbled.
Suddenly a pain at her neck signaled the arrival of said flea, and after flattening him and thanking Kikyou, she grabbed Mattaki's hand and pulled him back to her hut. Back inside, she sat down and placed Myouga on the table in front of her, and was promptly picked up and settled in the lap of her companion, making her blush brightly. Myouga watched this with wide eyes, "Ano…Kagome-sama…"
"We need your help," she said quickly, cutting him off, "This is going to sound weird, and it is weird, but its true, and this great jerk I'm sitting on seems to think you're the man for the job."
Myouga blinked, "Perhaps with a bit more…explanation, Kagome-sama?"
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "I always get stuck with this. 'Wahh, I'm a ghost and can't talk to anyone but the miko, so she has to pass on everything I say.'"
"Kagome, you're whining," Mattaki chuckled pulling her to lean back against him.
"Oh, shove it, Mattaki, your sense of humor is not appreciated. And please, can I sit on the floor? I'm never going to make it through this conversation blushing every few moments."
"Just pretend I'm not here, I won't bother you anymore."
"M-Mattaki you say?" Myouga squeaked, all his hands clasped in front of him like he were praying."
"Yes yes, the great pain in my ass Mattaki, Lord of the Annoying…"
That had gotten her pinched, but Myouga just blinked tears away, "My lord…" he whispered.
"He said to pull your head off his back end and help him figure out why, though he is a spirit and invisible to all without spiritual powers, as of this morning he can touch and manipulate things and people."
To demonstrate this, Mattaki picked up the flea and squished him with a chuckle, before Kagome slapped his hands and took his fun away for being 'rude'. Myouga composed himself after a ten minute crying fit in which he praised his luck in being alive to see his lord again and smiled widely up at the one girl he could see and the youkai he could not, "My lord," he said finally, "I think you may be coming back to life!"
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