Chapter Two
On the Journey Home
Kagome's sobs eventually stopped and she fell asleep in a hazy state of betrayal, confusion, love and sadness. Inuyasha gently rocked her small and bruised form in his arms. When he was sure she was deeply asleep he leapt into a nearby tree to settle them in for the night.
Inuyasha gazed down at Kagome's pale face. Her cheeks were still pink and he could smell the salty tears dried on her face. She slept with one small hand against his chest and the other in her lap. The pink sleeping pajamas looked too big on her. He pressed his nose to the top of her head, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her hair.
He found he couldn't join her in dreamland, for two reasons. One: Yesterday had been the long awaited final battle with Naraku and the unexpected departure of his first love, Kikyou. And two: where did he go from here? With Kagome?
In regards to number one, something didn't feel right about Naraku's death. Of course he had been there in the clearing and saw Naraku's body bubble and explode before being sucked into Miroku's cursed hand, but he couldn't shake the feeling of doom he had. Naraku was definitely dead, that was for sure; he wouldn't have given up with share of the Sacred Jewel if he wasn't.
So what was making him feel this way? All of his companions were unscathed to his knowledge, he suffered the most of any of them and that was a pierced shoulder, which by this point was already healing nicely thanks to his partially demonic blood.
His eyes fell on Kagome's face again, her lips twitched into a smile in her sleep. He pinpointed his fear. Something was going to go wrong with Kagome. That brought him to number two, the doom he felt was the unshakeable fear of losing her.
It was completely pointless even to him to pretend that he wasn't in love with her. She was the purest human he ever met. She was the one who changed him, gave him the total turnaround that not even Kikyou was able to influence on him.
Kagome was perfect, she was selfless. She was made for him; that was the scary part. Inuyasha didn't believe in soul-mates until there was Kagome. Of course he always considered Kikyou in the back of his mind but that proved obsolete when Kagome magically appeared before him several years back and awoke him from his eternal slumber.
He remembered, though how could he forget when she reminded him unknowingly everyday, when he first smelt her blood the rush that flooded him. His senses were acute more sensitive due to the fact they had been numb to him for fifty years. Blood coursed through him in a fiery rush, his eyes opened and pierced through the dark night. His heart called out to her.
When he felt her presence he knew right away she wasn't Kikyou, and when he saw her and her likeness he was scared why his body chose her. Why not Kikyou? He didn't know this imitation, he was angry and bitter. He called her Kikyou in an act against the new and thrilling feeling and emotions coursing through his alive body.
But he didn't have a choice. Somewhere deep and undiscovered in his soul, his demon self had claimed Kagome as his soul-mate.
At first he didn't want anything to do with her, he wanted her dead if anything, even though he soon found that wasn't something he was physically capable of. But it didn't take long before he was bound completely by her easy manner and freely expressive manner. Kikyou never laughed as often or as openly. Kagome was an open book most the time.
The rest is history. They have been comrades for five years now, she was roughly twenty now and well past the usual age for mating. But he was holding back, she was so different and part of him recognized that. Afterall, she came from the future and his subtle hints at courtship were never acknowledged by her, where she came from boys just threw themselves at women and made there intentions clear through (Inuyasha grimaced)… words.
But did he have a choice now? Naraku was destroyed and the jewel was already completed and purified… Kagome had nothing to keep her here with him. He had to speak up now or lose her. Unthinkingly, his arms circled tighter around her. The hand on his chest moved just inside his haori, she sighed in her sleep.
Inuyasha's heart wrenched at the thought of never seeing this again. Her perfection, her serenity, her small action that would send him on the edge of insanity for not being able to fully convey his love. Everyone else seemed to be aware of his undying dedication to her… why did she still doubt him? Why could she be so carefree one moment and then guarded the next?
He scrunched his nose, he knew the reason.
Kikyou.
Inuyasha drew a clawed finger along her jaw very slightly. Well, that wouldn't be happening anymore, so maybe if he could just have some time after they returned to village to explain farther then Kagome would understand.
She had to right? She was what his demonic blood claimed as his mate, that had to mean she was attainable… right? He felt a surge of panic. What would he do if she didn't love him.
Slowly, carefree not to stir her, Inuyasha bent his head and placed a soft kiss to the crown of her forehead. His lips lingered there for a long moment and he was in bliss. Kagome was nestled into his chest and he had his lips to her forehead. For a second he could see a future look into their life together if only she loved him back.
He pulled his lips away and cast a look off into the East. The sun was beginning to rise now, the others would be waking up now and be worried for the missing Kagome. The probably could give a rats ass for him.
Inuyasha somehow managed to make it back to the clearing without jarring Kagome too much. Somehow the other two were still asleep. Though as he held her in one arm and pulled back her sleep bag with the other, her eyes opened slowly. He set her down on the fluffy make-shift bed. She stared up at him with her round eyes.
"Sorry." He mumbled.
"S'okay." She replied and then she smiled.
"Did ya want to get up now? You could probably sleep for a little more…" He was looking over his shoulder at Sango and Miroku.
He heard the rustle of Kagome shaking her head. "I'll get up now."
"Do what you have to. I'll go get breakfast." Inuyasha leapt away.
Kagome watched his form slip further away. When he was completely gone from her vision she let out a slow and pent up sigh. She massaged her temples, a small headache was beginning to form between her eyes.
She rummaged around in her yellow backpack and produced a bottle of painkillers. She swallowed them with a sip from a bottle of water, Sango stirred awake, followed shortly by Miroku.
"Good morning," Sango said sitting up; Kilala curled up in her lap.
"Morning." Kagome said, smiling at both Sango and Miroku, signaling silently that she was going to be okay.
Sango and Miroku looked relieved.
Miroku scratched his head with his cursed hand. It was the first time Kagome and Sango noticed that it was still wrapped with the prayer beads.
Sango gasped. "Is it still..?"
Miroku looked surprised and looked down at his wrapped hand; he looked strangely guilty like he knew something he shouldn't. "Oh, well actually, no. No, its healed."
The girls eye's bulged. "WHAT?!" The both exclaimed, crawling over to Miroku excitedly; Kilala, who often stayed away from Miroku, saddled up to him as well.
He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, I just didn't know when an appropriate time would be to give the good news…"
"That's absolutely incredible!" Sango exclaimed, pulling his arm into her lap and fumbling to remove the protective barrier.
Kagome laughed and joined in, she felt so light with happiness. They pulled the restraints away together and held up his perfectly unscathed hand.
Tears filled up Sango's eyes, Kagome touched Miroku's palm in awe before realizing she was crying too. Miroku smiled triumphantly.
They all started laughing and touching his cured hand. And that was how Inuyasha found them, crying and smiling together.
It was about noon before the gang reached the outer limits of the domain their village resided in, the Western Domain. They had been almost completely silent so far on their journey back. All of them in a peaceful mood of jubilation; finally each beginning to realize Naraku was dead and they could live happily ever after now.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Kagome's mind. "Inuyasha, are you okay that I purified the jewel?" She asked a line creasing between her eyes with worry.
He looked taken aback. "Yeah… why wouldn't I be?" He asked equally as confused as Sango and Miroku.
Kagome shook her head. "I just forgot you used to want the jewel to become a full demon. I didn't know if you were mad I didn't give it to you."
Inuyasha crossed his arms inside his haori sleeves; he snorted. "Really, woman, I thought we went over this. I no longer want to turn into a full demon."
She looked at him sideways. "I know we talked about it awhile ago… I just thought, oh I don't know, maybe that you changed your mind…" She played with the shoulder strap of her monstrous yellow bag.
Inuyasha snorted again and didn't say anything else. Everyone fell back into their peaceful silence, they were still basking in their recent victory.
A few hours pasted and the gang stopped early to set up camp for the night. They would be able to reach the village by tomorrow at dusk.
Kagome and Sango set up the fire and cleared the camp area to make room for the blankets. Miroku and Inuyasha left to hunt and gather more firewood for later in the evening.
Sango sat down on the trunk Inuyasha had uprooted for a bench; she watched Kilala play with a cat toy Kagome had given her by the fire. Sango looked apprehensive; Kagome took the bait.
"Everything alright, Sango?" She asked joining her friend on the trunk.
Sango nodded curtly, once. "I guess I just want to know what happen to Kohaku. He wasn't at the battle and well, I want to know…"
Kagome looped her arm through Sango's. "We will find him. That will be our next journey."
Sango looked at Kagome and smiled sadly. "I would be able to handle it, you know… if he was dead again. I did it once, I could do it again. I just want him to be in peace."
"I admire you, Sango. I have never met a stronger woman than you." Kagome said sincerely; she leaned her head on Sango's shoulder.
Sango smiled to herself, 'Yeah its all a front… Kohaku… Miroku…'
After a moment of self reflection on both girls parts, Kagome sat up and angled her body toward Sango better.
"So, have you had the chance to talk with Miroku at all?"
Sango blushed. "No, I haven't. I'm waiting for him to talk to me first. I hope he was serious when he said that he would marry me after Naraku's defeat."
"He was, I just know it. It's safe to say your feelings for him haven't changed?" Kagome smiled kindly.
"Of course not. I don't know why I love him so much but I do." Sango smiled and looked down at her folded hands. "It's like we understand each other without saying anything. I truly love him, even with his lecherous faults."
"You know, Miroku has been unbelievably pious these past few months. I don't think he has asked anyone to bare his children in ages!"
"Well… I mean he shouldn't have… a few weeks ago…" Sango began but stopped, her face was flushed.
Kagome leaned in very interested. "Yeah? And…?"
"He kissed me." Sango looked up at Kagome, a smile on her lips. "Sweetly. It wasn't lecherous at all. That's why I am hoping he still loves me, he hasn't tried again since then."
Kagome's mouth hung open in a very unladylike fashion. "Ah! Sango!" She embraced her friend. "This is very good! Very, very good!"
"You think so? But why just that one time…?"
"Because you haven't encouraged him! You have to make sure he understands you liked that and want more!" Kagome leaned back and smiled widely. "I'm so happy for you."
Sango laughed. "Oh I hope its that easy." There was a slight pause. "What about you and Inuyasha?"
Miroku followed Inuyasha into the forest leaving the girls to set up camp. They walked in silence for awhile. Both seemed to be thinking seriously.
"So… Naraku's gone. I still can't believe it." Miroku said looking down at his naked hands.
Inuyasha grunted.
"What do you think you'll do now?"
Inuyasha shrugged and pulled his arms out of the sleeves of his haori. "Go back to the village. Protect it; teach Shippo to fight."
That answer came as a surprise to Miroku. "Wow, Inuyasha my good man, you certainly have made a complete transformation since I met you." Inuyasha didn't comment. "This wouldn't have something to do with Kagome would it?"
Inuyasha remained silent. Miroku felt lucky; he pushed further.
"Do you mind if I ask what happened between you and Kikyou right after?"
"Keh. You can ask, I wont tell you."
"Well, you know then I will have to imagine the worst…" He said sounding oddly euphoric.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "Want me to beat those ideas out of your head for you, monk?"
Miroku laughed and held up his hands in surrender. "Now, lets not get hasty. I only ask because Kagome is a dear friend and I don't like when she gets upset."
"Don't think I like it either."
"I know you don't, I just want to know why you keep making her upset then."
Inuyasha felt upset. "It's not like I mean to."
"Then why do you keep going off whenever Kikyou is nearby?"
"She was on our side. We had to work together."
"I think Kagome would have preferred it if you took her along with you if that was all you and Kikyou were doing, strategizing."
"Watch it, Monk. I don't have the patience for your guilt trip."
Miroku sighed. "Look, Inuyasha, let me just cut to the chase. You love Kagome. She loves you. What are you waiting for? The jewel is complete, there is nothing keeping Kagome here anymore."
Inuyasha snarled. "I realize this." He bit out.
"Then talk to her."
"Keep out of this."
"Inuyasha, really-"
"Just get the damn wood." Inuyasha yelled as he bound out of the way.
He rushed through the forest, feeling slightly anxious to get dinner and head back to camp. He felt like this whenever he was separated from Kagome.
Inuyasha spotted a sizable deer and pounced. As he skinned the animal at a nearby water source he thought reluctantly about what Miroku said - all of which he was already painfully aware of.
He had never been close to Miroku but over the years they developed a sort of one sided friendship. Miroku learned to talk and Inuyasha would listen and threaten at appropriate times.
Inuyasha finished skinning and cleaning the deer, Kagome hated doing that part, and washed his hands. He quickly made his way back to the camp. He was just approaching the edge of the clearing when he heard something that Sango said that made him stop.
And his heart too.
"What about you and Inuyasha?"
Hello, hello!
This will be my latest project and to keep from PaR (Posting at Random) I have the first four chapters already typed on my computer so if I don't get to write for awhile at least I can still be updating every couple of days or so. Editing has not been done on this draft, I edited the whole entire thing and then my computer decided to flip out and not save anything as it took me to a different page, a page I didn't ask it to take me to! Rawr!
Is it too much that I'm writing one of these? I feel like this plot is over-used... but I suppose that is why I'm going to SPICE IT UPP. hehe
Probably going to have another happy ending. I still haven't decided completely but the odds are it will. I say this because lately I've been itchy to write something 'sob worthy.' Haha but that's not really my style so I'll stick with the sappy romances!
As always, let me know what you are thinking!
hugsLovingMyKistune
