Chapter4: New Routines

Kagome's POV

I woke up the next morning earlier than usual as I felt someone shaking my body. As my eyes opened and I blinked a couple of times to adjust to the bright light, I saw Inuyasha standing there. I grunted and turned to my side, my back facing him. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep but he shook me again.

"Go away", I growled at him. He chuckled. How can someone be this awake this early?

"No. Get up. It's time for training remember", he said. I whined and sat up, rubbing my eyes. I stood up with his help and followed him out. I hated when he woke me this early every morning, but I also liked spending time alone with him.

It had been three days since I had permanently started living in the Feudal Era. The villagers had built me a house where I stayed with my friends at the time being. Inuyasha had put off traveling so that he could train me first. We had started with the basics: running, jumping and my new enhanced senses such as smell and hearing. Then we went into hand-to-hand combat, and we were still stuck there since Inuyasha kept telling me there was more to learn in that subject.

I was suddenly hit on the shoulder. That immediately woke me up as I grabbed the person's wrist and flung him across the field where I now stood.

"I see someone finally woke up", I heard Inuyasha taunt as he stood back up.

"Shame on you for hitting a girl", I teased back. I loved this part of our fighting even more.

"You're a girl", he asked, faking ignorance.

"I can always lift my shirt and prove it to you, but I think you'd like that too much", I said with a grin as I took a defensive stance.

"Nah, but maybe Miroku would take up your offer", he said as he himself took an offensive stance.

As he launched himself at me with his speed, I stepped sideways and tried to kick his feet from underneath him. He jumped up and landed on my other side. I blocked his fist and clawed his bare chest. He jumped back and took a defensive stance this time.

"Not bad", he said.

"Why thank you", I mock bowed him.

Then I ran at him and tried to kick him in the stomach but he grabbed my leg.

"You never learn do you", he teased as he twisted my leg and pushed my to the floor. I jumped to my feet quickly and blocked his fist again. I dug my claws into his hand almost pulling blood as I pushed him away from me and retreated.

"Do you always have to use your claws on me woman?" He complained. I giggled. He sighed.

"Okay. Next lesson", Inuyasha said.

He didn't even give me time to answer as he charged at me and went all assault on me. Punch, kick, and dodge… Then he scratched my shirt open, exposing my black bra.

"Hey! You shredded my shirt", I screeched.

"What are you going to do about it bitch", he said. Now I was mad.

"Shadow Claws!" I yelled. Purple light blades the shape of small boomerangs flew out of my nails as I swiped the air at Inuyasha.

"Finally! We're getting somewhere", he said after he dodged all of my shots.

"Huh?" I asked now confused as I looked at my still slightly glowing nails.

"You found one of your demonic attacks. I had to get you mad for you to find it", he explained.

"Cool! Can we try to find my other attack", I asked him. I raised my hand to my head suddenly feeling a little unbalanced and weak.

"Not a good idea. The first time you try a demonic attack, your strength gets drained-

He started saying but I couldn't hear him anymore. My legs let go and I felt myself falling to the ground fast.

__________________

I opened my eyes and found myself lying on the ground in the same field covered by something red. At closer inspection I noticed it was Inuyasha's suikan (jacket). As I looked up I saw him sleeping quietly and noticed my head was on his lap. A blush formed as I sat up quickly. I would've got up and left quietly, but Inuyasha must have felt my presence was no longer there and opened his eyes. He stretched and looked at me. I was about to give him back his suikan when he raised a hand to stop me.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you", the half-demon warned.

"And why not", I stubbornly replied. I took the jacket off of my upper body and was about to give it back when I felt a breeze. I looked down and screamed as I covered myself back up with a blushing face.

"I forgot you had done that", I said through clenched teeth. He looked a little nervous at my stare.

"Oh don't worry I wont sit you", I said. THUD

"Sorry!" I said trying not to laugh.

"Stupid wench", he grumbled as he sat back up.

"I didn't mean to S-I-T you but you did kind of deserved it", I said matter-of-factly.

"I did not!"

"Did to!"

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Did not!"

"Did!"

"Not!"

"Did!"

"Not!"

We finally noticed how close we were to each other and stopped yelling. I could feel his breath and hear his heart speeding as mine did.

He was slowly closing the gap between us as I closed my eyes.

"What's with all the yelling", Sango asked as Miroku and her came into view. The perverted priest gave us a smile as we blushed and jumped apart.

"I accidentally sat Inuyasha even though he deserved it", I started saying but the arrogant hanyou cut me off.

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Is this really necessary", Sango asked, "Weren't you both supposed to be training?"

"Yes, but I passed out from exhaustion. I learned my first demonic power", I explained, "It took a lot out of me."

"It's suppose to wench", Inuyasha said. I decided to ignore him this time.

"Come on Sango", I said as I took her hand, "I want to go bathe."

"Wha-

"Humph", I turned my head at the gaping hanyou and made my way towards the hot springs with Sango not far behind.

As we finished undressing and soaked our bodies in the calming water she started talking.

"So what's going on between you two lately", the demon slayer asked.

"I really don't know anymore", I closed my eyes thinking about the fact that he had almost kissed me. My hand automatically made it's way to my lips and my heart started beating faster.

"What's wrong", Sango asked.

"N-nothing", I opened my eyes and put my hand back in the water, "Just thinking. He can be such a jerk sometimes", I changed the subject before she could ask what was on my mind. She didn't seem to notice.

"But he seems different when he's with you", she said.

"What do you mean"

"Don't you see the way he looks at you when he thinks no one's watching", she explained.

"Hold that thought", I told her, "Shadow Claws!"

"Ouch!" Was heard in the bushes close by that I had hit. I grabbed a towel, as did Sango as we both got out.

"I know you guys are there I heard your heart beats and breathing. I could smell you from afar", I yelled. The nerve of those guys… Miroku I understand but Inuyasha to?!

I growled.

"Show yourselves before I tear you two to shreds", I yelled again.

I could've sworn I heard someone gulp as both guys came out trying to look as innocent as possible.

"Don't give me that look!"

"It's not what it looks like. Well for me at least", Inuyasha said pounding Miroku's perverted head.

"You've got 5 seconds to explain since I'm in a good mood", I said my hands tightening their grip on my towel.

"That's a good mood", Inuyasha asked incredibly.

"3 seconds", I said. He sighed.

"It was this perverts fault. He wanted to catch a glimpse. I was only trying to stop him", he yelled at me. He didn't look like he was lying… Who am I kidding? Why would Inuyasha ever want to even see me naked when he's got Kikyou on his mind?

I nodded sadly and made my way towards my house without another word. Why was I getting so worked up anyways? It's not like I wanted him to see me naked? Right? Right…

Oh! Who am I kidding?

I grunted as I picked out a new outfit consisting of dark blue jean shorts and a plain black t-shirt. I slipped on some running shoes and brushed my hair carefully as to not hit my ears. Just as I was finishing I heard a knock on my door. I sniffed the air.

"You can come in Inuyasha", I said. He opened the door with a small smile.

"Very good", he said. I smiled a little.

"So what's up", I asked as I put my hairbrush down on my hand-crafted dresser some villagers were nice enough to make for all my clothes. Sadly there were no mirrors in this house yet. I would have to go back to my time to buy one.

"We're leaving on a long trip", he explained.

"To?"

"Totosai and Narumi", he said.

"Narumi", I asked. I've never heard that name before.

"The demon seamstress", he explained.

"Why?"

"You need new battle gear. I sent Myoga ahead so that they can be ready when we get there", was all he said before he turned around and started walking out of my bedroom. My hand automatically went to stop him. He turned around with a confused expression.

"What-

"Why do you always act like this", I said finally speaking my mind after all these times, "You never let me in. You're always hiding behind that though act of yours."

He looked away. My hand went to his cheek as I turned his face, his eyes locked with mine.

"Stop pushing me away. You can trust me", I told him.

"I can't… I'm not", he mumbled nonsense, "I do."

"Just take your time. I'll still be here when you're ready", I smiled a little and dropped my hand from his face, moving it to his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He surprised me by squeezing it back.

"I-I've never told anyone any of this", I didn't say anything I just waited. He sighed as he looked into my eyes. He gave my hand another squeeze before starting to talk again.

"It all started when I was younger. Since I was born as a half-breed I was never accepted. My mother was the only one who did since my father had died and she was hated because of it. Then later on, she got herself killed protecting me. I should've been the one protecting her! But instead I ran away like the little coward I was", he growled. Tears were actually threatening to fall. I rubbed soothing circles on the back of his hand with my thumb.

"You couldn't have done anything. None of that was your fault. You would've ended up getting yourself killed. You were only a child, Inuyasha! Your mother only did what she thought was best for you, her son, and I'm sure she would do the same thing given the choice just to see you safe", I explained.

"I-I can't help feeling guilty though. All the time", he said in a voice just above a whisper. Thank god for dog-ears!

I let go of his hand and pulled him into a hug. This time he didn't hesitate to hug me back as I felt his strong arms around me, and his nose in my hair. After a while he pulled away with a small smile.

"We better go. The others are waiting for us", he said. I nodded and followed his out of the house.

"What took you so long", Miroku raised an eyebrow suggestively as we met our friends outside.

Inuyasha glared at him and smacked him on the head.

"None of your business hentai", he growled at him.

I shook my head and turned to the small kitsune.

"Come on Shippo", I told him.

He jumped into my arms and I started walking. Inuyasha caught up to me and we raced to our destination, Kirara not far behind.

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