AN:Standard Inuyasha disclaimer!
Wow, it has been a while hasn't it…sorry it took so long to come out with this chapter! Writers block is painful! Good thing I now have an awesome beta to help me through it all! I dedicate this chapter dutifully to my anonymous beta reader.
But I would also like to give my thanks to my wonderful reviewers, you all make my day! Or at least you made the day I received your reviews hehe.
O.O
"I-I-I" Kagome stuttered, as Inuyasha's hands bore down with slight pressure, that her guilt transformed into the feel of hundred pound weights. Nearly paralyzing her mind in fright with his flaring, desperate fury. However, her shocked, reeling mind managed to unearth a plausible explanation. "I am actually a huge fan of demon mythology; I know all about demons, I study them in books. It's just that… it's kind of nerdy so I, umm, didn't want to tell you…" She finally answered timidly, hoping her answer would satisfy him and calm his suddenly railed state. She was not ready to... Her hands shook with fright even at the thought of trying to... face him with her identity unveiled, especially after the day's fluctuating events.
Inuyasha quickly retracted his hands from her shoulders with an unspoken apology at her statement;despondently keeping them fixed on his lap. He wouldn't look her in the eyes, he felt ashamed and remorseful for harming her in his... frantic aggression. she was just a mythology nerd after all, she couldn't help her odd knowledge, of odd things, that related to an odd person in an odd time, after all. Wow that whole thought line was just odd. Time to leave the world of geekdom! "oh...I see"
Kagome immediately regretted the lie, as her gut twisted sickeningly at the deception uncommon to her. She felt fake, she felt like she had betrayed him. They were in the same situation after all, leading secret lives, protecting the lands 500 years in the past and he had been asking her for helpful information. For help, and she had denied him. In a way she felt as thought she had abandoned him, like a puppy . Poor abandoned little Inu hanyou...wallowing sadly around the big scary world five hundred years in the past, all alone...erm...Snap out of it Kagome, you're in a very delicate position and it needs imediate mending!
She steeled herself and looked back up at him, and immediately saw see how sorry he was. The poor, unknowing boy radiated regret. Almost to the point of pain with regret. She hated herself for doing that to him. What kind of twisted person was she becoming? She was a positive ghoul that's what kind of person, although, was a ghoul really a person, because that could be argued! Eurgh, not the point. This had to stop. She had to tell him the truth, or it would eat her up inside. "Inuyasha…" she said tentatively, not quite sure how to tell him or entirely certain if she should. Yet she was positive she must say something. However just at the precise moment she spoke his name, he found his voice.
"Kagome…" their cheeks both burned as their eyes made awkward eye contact. "Oh sorry…" Inuyasha started bashfully breaking eye contact and looking abashedly off to the side.
"No you go ahead…" Kagome urged, and then smiled encouragingly. She was in absolutely no rush to tell him the truth. He could throw a fit, rant for hours, anything that gave her an excuse to keep her silence for the time being. She was still not sure what to do about the situation or even how best to approach the voodoo-ey topic, seeing as she had just now, so successfully deceived him. No it was all of it, their meeting, the lying, the sharing, it was all just too much for one day. Her emotions were quite rung. No! Yes!... Okay, she needed time to collect herself and quell the butterflies dancing within her.
Inuyasha watched with deep interst Kagome inwardly battling herself, amusement, sadness, anger, all emotions flitted across her unguarded face. Had he really effected her so greatly? His face felt suddenly warm as he was reminded of the funny and sometimes awkward moments he seemed to have with her. The girl was quite chuckle worthy, and well, maybe even trust worthy too. Hmm, worth a shot. Here goes nothing. Although, it was something, something big to him. He cast her a drunken grin before he seemed to suddenly recall what he was about to tell her and sobered up with a quick adjustment in his seat. Collecting himself as he readied to speak, "Have you ever…" straightening up slowly, he took a calming breath, steadying his nerves and reaffirming his resolve before he continued. "Ever had something, that you couldn't share with anyone else, and got a load of crap for it?" he asked sounding curious, but with undertones of frustration, seeking someone, anyone that would hear him and… he didn't know what else, but their was something else. He could never tell his friends and family what he was hiding, that had to remain secret. He knew that, so what he hoped to gain from asking this, he did not know. Yet the need to tell someone, it was so powerful. He hated this isolation.
His eyes glazed as he fell deeper into his own mind, and began speaking his inner thoughts aloud for her. "But it's something you find exciting, and tend to think about half the time." His voice turned deep and sour as he finished, bitterness and anger marring his features "but no one is supposed to know, so you keep it hidden inside."
She watched solemnly as he clenched his fist in his shirt, wrinkling the cottony fabric in his frustration. He pinned her with his piercing, honey-gold gaze. In the depths of his eyes the color of captured sunlight turned to stone, shone his anger hurt, confusion and… An unfamiliar beseeching quality she would never have imagined he, Inuyasha the arrogant show-off that he was, could possess. With her eyes, she begged him to continue.
"The pressure it makes," he finally told her " it just builds up… and up" Words seemed to desert him at this point; he fell silent as he closed his eyes and heaved a great shuddering sigh that failed to release any tension .
She could see that he was gripping the side of the round, wooden table, his long, lethal talons digging into the grainy surface creating small gorges. She couldn't stand to see him so shaken. His obvious distress wrapped itself around her heart like a fist sending both shooting pains and a dull ache through her in her sympathy for his pain and loneliness. She truly empathized with him, but…When had they become this close? Close enough that he could open up to her like this and show her his pain? To speak so honestly to her? Usually he lied and joked rather than answer the simplest of questions… where did this trust come from? When had everything gone from light, teasing banter, to...this?
He was describing to her exactly how she had felt before telling her own family about the well, only to a higher extent. The secret of the well must have really been beating upon him. Wearing him down, pressing upon him with a suffocating force she understood only too well. She felt a wash of sympathy, yes, but also of fellowship. She understood him. Probably better than most, and while she may not know why he had not told his family - which she guessed he hadn't seeing his turmoil, she was still a kindred spirit. Someone who knew, unbeknownst to him what he was dealing with. Kagome felt the need to reach out to him, even if she did not reveal her secret, she could try to offer him some small comfort.
Inuyasha was still wrapped in his own thoughts, now silent, when he felt something warm, soft, and light wrap around his hand. He looked down to find another hand placed atop his own, he traced his eyes up its adjoined arm, to find Kagome's affectionate amber glance, the stars in their depths seeming to glow with a warm, twinkling light. The genuine kindness they held sent an unexpected but pleasant flush into his face, and gave him a sense of release if only for a moment from the weight of his secret.
He was glad he had opened up to her. She may not know his predicament, but the understanding and care in her eyes was unmistakable.
She did not berate him for showing weakness and he was not looked down on, as he felt others would do without hesitation. She had no expectations for him to live up to...he was not a disappointment to her. He was simply himself, and she had simply listened. Kagome had given him, just what he had needed. He was grateful, though, he'd die before he'd ever admit it.
They stayed like that for a while, sitting comfortably across from each other. A warm and serene atmosphere weaving a contented melody, like a lullaby around the two friends as they sat in companionable truce. The room empty and quite except for the hushed whispers of their thoughts, until that is… Kagome noticed how late it was, she smiled in apology as the spell of tranquility was broken and then closed down the shop. Both went their separate ways, Kagome down to her home in the Southern part of Tokyo, and Inuyasha to his home in the North.
O.O
There are always those magical moments in musicals where the heroin of the story wakes up one sunny morning with a brilliant epiphany just bursting out of her. One could only visualize the light bulb going 'ding!' above her head. As if the most amazing idea EVER entranced her while she slept. She immediately jolts upright in bed, skipping the groggy phase of waking up, and going straight to the Sponge Bob Square Pants, 'I'm READY!' phase. Then the character, newly energized by her inspiration, sings to an upbeat tune about her new dazzling idea or resolution.
A silly little dance follows.
Kagome had a similar dream world revelation, except, unfortunately for her, she didn't escape the groggy side of waking up. But she did hum a little!- Yup that morning she rolled out of bead with a slow heavy, rapped flurry of twisting blankets and night robes, for a quick inspection of the sheet dents running along the side of her face in the sparse glow of morning light and an eager dash to the shower. A sense of both joy and excitement bubbling to the surface despite the early morning fog that damply surrounded her.
She was irrevocably seized by a sense of 'TODAY IS THE DAY!' possession when, in fact, she was blow drying her thick, sopping, onyx strands.
For Kagome, blow drying her hair before the mirror was a repetitive, but satisfying ritual. One during which she tends to reflect on life as she analyzes her smiling reflection. So, it was not at all surprising that her epiphany only completely took hold after this activity, when she had formed an idea of how to act on her decision. It was only right her decision hit while she had her eyes on her pensive reflection with its silky, now dry, locks dancing playfully around in the mirror.
Yep, many deep reasoning's came to her during her quality mirror time.
Anyways, it was while she was reflecting that she came to the realization that today was the day she would tell Inuyasha her secret identity. And that it was today that she would return to her honest, open, free self again and never look back on her horrid days of lying. Well actually, more like deceitful actions, not necessarily lying. But anyhow, no more of that nonsense skulking around Inuyasha. No serie Bob. She would be open and friendly with the one friend whom she was absolutely destined to share a secret with, and she would do it today!
She felt elated, charged like a mad robot with endless optimism. She giggled madly and skipped with the lightness of a sun drenched pixie out of the steamy room.
O.O
Kagome threw the front door open, her chin held high and her eyes bright, radiating at the sight of a clear and open blue sky; as if the clouds had been chased away during the night. Maybe even she had been the one to do the chasing. Oh ho ho, no, that was just too silly!
The sunlight welcomed her as it caressed her skin with its gentle warmth in the early morning hour. She couldn't stop thinking about Inuyasha and what she had to tell him. All the flickering memories of him seemed to descend from their floating madness above her head, like a hail storm of leaves tumbling pell-mell through the air to play scenes before her eyes. Which would be quite entertaining in deed. Each striking her with vivid clarity, bringing with it a jolt of remembered emotions. A playful slap from the memory of the grotto, causing a flash of his bare skinned torso across her distant eyes. A soft nudge from the scene on the beach and all she could see was his golden eyes passionately taking in her amber's.
She shivered at the thought of the magnetic pull he seemed to have on her. And as she neared the school she couldn't help her small, curious glances every five seconds to the tree's branches above her. Always scanning obsessively for a flash of red, the color he seemed to wear the most.
"What'cha looking for?" a deep throated whisper breathed into her ear.
"AH!" She squeaked, not sure where the bubble-of-personal-space invading whisperer had come from, she threw her hands up with the stiffness of a Barbie doll and jumped backwards, landing with a soft 'thump' against a firm chest.
Earning her an "Ow…" from her aggressor and a playful, "geez, watch where you're going, would ya?" She then, to her love of being lifted sides delight, found herself being lifted and spun around like a twister wheel to face a devious little hanyou's cocky smirk.
"Inuyasha" she let his name spill softly from her lips as they lifted into a relieved smile. Thank god it wasn't Koga. However, she suddenly remembered that the insolent hanyou had just scared the crap out of her a minute or so ago. She promptly gave him well earned slap on his arm. "What the hell are you running around scaring poor innocent school girls like that for?" she nagged, with a hint of humor. Slightly disgruntled by his abrupt and unexpected sneak attack but also pleased to see him, despite the shock.
"Gahh…. What the hell?" Inuyasha flinched slightly, as if it had hurt.
She turned her nose up, snickering inwardly, "It's only what you get for… Oh wait!" Kagome got a bright look in her eyes as she grabbed the side of his now tense arm for attention, having suddenly remembered her earlier intentions. "I have to tel-" And she was going to start telling him her secret when they were interrupted by the blasting bravado of a terribly off tune voice, so obnoxiously close, yet it's source seemingly unidentifiable.
"Kagome! Is aaaliiiiive… with the sound of muuusiiic." At hearing her name, Kagome immediately began to flit her head around with the confusion of a pigeon being pummeled by French fries. (Trust me it happens…), Attractive.
"With songs she hath sung to my heeeaaaart!" Kagome blushed, that last line was just plain embarrassing! Her frown deepened, okay whoever or whatever was singing needed to stop right NOW! "She fills my heart with the sound of- AH!"
As if a certain Hanyoi had read her mind, there was a flash of red and the overtly romanticized, butchered version of The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music came to an abrupt end. As Koga lay knocked out cold on the ground before Kagome, silly hearts still dancing before his love struck eyes.
"Umm… Inuyasha? Don't you think that was just, well uh, I don't know… just a bit harsh?" She had wanted him to stop embarrassing her… not out cold as a cucumber. She held up two fingers in forming the peace symbol for emphasis, to Inuyasha, who was now sittings in the tree above her, "violence is not the answer young Inuyasha." she teased him as she scowled at the K.O'd Koga on the ground, as if knocking him out had not stopped the horrendous sound of his love song.
"Feh" Inuyasha shrugged, unabashed, before fixing his sight on the tree next to his, and hopping off to school.
This rotally ticked Kagome off. Oh goodybye Mr. snobby hanyou, but wait, before you leave wouldn't you like to meet Mr. chivalry? Oh, you've never heard of mr. Chivalry? My, my. Well, He damn well should have, considering the boy traveled on a regular basis 500 years into the past! Kagome fumed irritably to herself.
"Oh yeah, that's okay… leave little helpless Kagome to deal with the big KNOCKED OUT WOLF!" she threw her hands up and looked at the sky, her eyes pleading with the heavens for an answer to her suffering. "Cause any girl just up and lift a full grown male YOUKAI!" her voice hid no sarcasm. "Oh yeah, I lift heavy demons all the time… you could call it a hobby or something like that." She called out, barely below a shout in the volume of her voice as she, panting with effort, began to drag Koga begrudgingly towards the school. "And it's not like I was going to tell, him anything IMPORTANT… or anything. Nope, I just wanted to talk about the weather!"
She glared down at her burden. "You're HEAVY, ya know that?" she informed the unresponsive youkai. His continuing silence only infuriating her further "ERGH!" she ground out, before giving up and leaving Koga. Today was definitely not turning out the way she had planned. But despite the lost opportunity while walking to school, Kagome remained as determined as a horse struggling to reach a taunting red, juicy apple on a tree branch, just a few inches out of reach. She made a fist and held it dramatically to her chest, she would not give up, somehow she would tell Inuyasha the truth! Whether he wanted it or not!
O.O
" Hey susie, did you know a picture is worth a thousand words"
"Why no john that did not occur to me... sounds like way too many words for one little picture to me. Now maybe if the picture were the size of a sky scraper and had millions of little things in it, then maybe it could be..."
Aha! Kagome mentally exclaimed as she involuntarily listened to her neighboring fellow students subtly whisper to each other. - Cowabunga!- She was struck by a brilliant idea of how to tell Inuyasha the truth. Kagome snickered rather loudly as she began to etch a drawing of herself aiming with a bow and arrow at something. This was it, she could just pass him a drawing, suspiciously connecting herself to the Miko on a note or something… and somehow start up a conversation… that would lead to him getting mad and accusing her of being the Miko, and her 'fessing up'. BRILLIANT!
She continued to giggle maniacally, sounding down right evil and clearly up to something devious. Yet somehow she still came off as cute to her able eared neighbors. Such a feat only Kagome could manage.
She had decided to add super long hair, to her drawing, that flowed like strands of silk caught in an airy, super natural wind. What? Might as well make herself look nice since she was already putting so much effort into the drawing… don't judge. When she finally finished she wrote on the bottom, 'remind you of something?' Then swiftly passed it behind herself to Inuyasha where, with a deceptively avid air, she stared back up at the board where his mother Mrs. Taisho was giving an English lecture; trying to look for all the world as though the lesson were the only thing capable of capturing her elusive attention. However, she still couldn't swipe off the excited grin gracing her lips, but Inuyasha couldn't see that - having been sat in the seat behind her - so it was okay.
She kept her eyes front, anticipation dancing in their starry depths; this was going to be fun! The wait was excruciatingly long as she envisioned how Inuyasha would respond; it took every ounce of her will to stay still in her seat.
Finally she could hear the light scraping of a pencil behind her and before she knew it, found the note paper hovering for a second before her nose before it dropped onto her desk. She snatched it and began to consume the words he wrote with hungry eyes. But their excited glow seemed to dim as her eye brows furrowed together, his words, were not what she had expected.
"Hmm only reminds me of your sad taste in men… he a new boyfriend? His weapon choice is a bit too feminine don't you think? Swords are WAY more manly I'd like to think, at least they get close to their targets. Arrows are for cowards, too afraid to get close to the enemy. Or too weak…"
She gave a loud "Humph" before writing a hasty, reply, losing sight of her original purpose.
"Yeah I've always had a thing for archers, with their grace as they pull back the arrow, and the accuracy of the weapon in general… there are just too many times when swords miss their targets, and sword fights are sooo long. With an arrow, ya shoot once and it's all over. Way more lethal in MY opinion, than a measly sword. And too feminine? More like too HOT! All archers are hot, Legolass from Lord of the Rings for example…"
She then proceeded to slap the note back onto his desk.
A few angry pencil squeaks later and he returned the favor, but with a more forceful slap than her own. It was so loud, the whole class turned to stare at Kagome's desk. Including Mrs. Taisho. Who just happened to notice the paper on Kagome's desk and the way Inuyasha and Kagome had suddenly found something very distracting outside their windows.
"Ahemm" she cleared her throat as she neared there desks, "what is this?" She picked up the note, and studied it with a raised eyebrow as she walked briskly back to her desk. When she reached her desk she turned back towards Kagome, and she could tell Mrs. taisho had been laughing softly as she read the note by the smile lines etched softly around her eyes. "This won't happen again I'm sure?" she asked Kagome and Inuyasha, laughter unhidden in her voice. They nodded earnestly in unison, amazed at how easily they had escaped a detention.
Satisfied she slipped the note into her desk drawer, a small glint of humor lighting her eyes "Wow Kagome, this drawing is fridge door approved! I'll be keeping this then, the staff could always use a good laugh." She smiled and then continued on with thelecture, as if there had never been an interruption.
She knew it was too good to be true…Kagome sunk herself in her seat, as her face stained beet red. She was so embarrassed, Inuyasha's MOTHER had read the note… she probably thought Kagome was crazy! And the whole STAFF? Really, was it absolutely necessary to pin it to the staff fridge? This was so much worse than detention, and I am still no where closer to telling Inuyasha the truth.
Plan failed…
O.O
"Alright, can anyone guess which weapon we will be learning today?" Kikyo asked as she swept along the row of assembled students.
All the students looked past the teacher with bored looks at the obvious layered out target posts.
Miroku raised his hand, "Umm, darts?" he joked.
Then a skinny, dark haired kid gaining courage raised his hand, but with more energy, "Oh! I know, we're learning to throw knives!"… He was serious.
Kikyo the gym and weapon teacher scoffed, "alright does anyone have any more brilliant ideas to add?" she chilled them all with a cold glare as she strode down the line, "or shall we get started?" She asked no one in particular as she ripped off a white sheet covering a rack, to reveal about twelve polished bows; each with their own set of arrows.
"Ooh" the class cooed. Before wiping the fresh drool off their mouths, to hop on their toes, trying to look as alert as possible, hoping this would earn them the right to be one of the first to try the weapon out.
Kagome was ecstatic, this was perfect! She was in weapon class, and so was Inuyasha, she could just about hear him rolling his eyes at the end of the line, at the mere mention of the bow. Here was a perfect opportunity to broach the topic she had intended to through the note passing fiasco, and seeing as archery was her forte… she could have a lot of fun with this… time to shine!
"There are twenty-four of you, so you'll have to pair up." Kikyo pointed out to the bouncing idiots.
The bouncing immediately stopped as everyone started scrambling around for a partner. Names were shouted, hair was pulled, some even got ran over, it was like petting zoo gone to crocodile feeding time. Kikyo had unleashed utter chaos, and then left for a snack in the staff room to let the students sort things out on their own. Figures… Kikyo never likes to get her perfect little hands dirty
Kagome almost got trampled twice as she pushed her way over to Inuyasha, but somehow managed to battle her way through the mob in one piece, not the same could be said for everyone in the mosh pit like scene though…
"Inuyasha!" she panted once she got over to him. He was sitting all cool, and unruffled against the frigid stone wall. She glared at his laid back façade, while she was as red as a stop sign and covered in sweat. With an effort she managed to bite back a snarky remark as she smiled, daintily holding out her hand, "let's be partners, neh?"
Inuyasha just stared blankly at her hand. What was her game? He stood up and stretched exaggeratedly, completely ignoring it. Kagome's big smile deflated into a scowl as she pulled her hand slowly back, looking around to make sure no one saw him deny it. The jerk; he could teach a class on how not to treat a girl any day.
Inuyasha finished stretching with a smirk, "sure" he said, and then weaved smoothly through the crowd, with the fluidity, of a river carving its way through a bolder riddled gorge to the bow rack.
Kagome was about to try and follow, when she noticed just how much more crowded and umm; "oh my god, is that girl's arm broken?…that cannot be natural!"
She was definitely better off where she was so Kagome wisely decided to stay put and let Inuyasha bring the supplies back to her.
"No, Kagome the arrow should point that way, ya know towards the BIG RED CIRCLE!" Inuyasha griped, thoroughly annoyed with her appalling aim.
Kagome blinked innocently, trying not to laugh as Inuyasha began to attempt to move the tip of her arrow to the side, but she wouldn't let it budge. "You mean the target?"
He looked up at her from the tip of her arrow, where he had begun to poke it. "Yeah so, why does it matter what it's called?" He rolled his eyes and sighed, "And you're holding the arrow up too high… here let me show you."
"Nuhh uhh" Kagome teased as she jumped to the side to avoid his dive for the bow and arrow, she should have bonked him on the nose and shown him how it's done, the first time he had corrected her: but… the option of feigning novice was way more fun.
She couldn't resist; Kagome held her body in the worst possible position she could. Her shoulders sagging as she pulled the arrow completely off target, her body so grossly out of balance, leaving no allowance for power in the draw - not that she could attempt to draw the bow without running the risk of falling over due to overbalancing. It was with a supreme effort that she held back her mirth… honestly she didn't know how much more she could withstand before she fell over laughing; she was just having too much fun to stop. Not even when she was originally learning had she been this bad.
She somehow managed to keep a serious face as she pointed the arrow towards the ground . "How's this?" She asked knowing full well and getting the desired effect.
Inuyasha's eyes widened as he smacked his palm to his forehead and moaned as if in agony due to the horridness of her shooting posture, "Did you not listen to a word Kikyo said?"
She frowned at the implication of her being a bad student, "Of course I was paying attention!" she cried as she *accidentally* dropped the arrow, "Oopsy!" she gasped "Let me ge-" she began as Inuyasha lept at the chance to head her off.
"NO! I'll get it!" Inuyasha yelled as he whisked the arrow up and slipped the bow off of her shoulder. He began to aim, "this is how you – oops" Inuyasha had accidentally let the arrow go early… It landed pitifully on its side, about a yard away from their feet.
"AHAHGAHA!" Kagome burst into full hearted laughter; it was just too much to take!
"Inuyasha growled, "Well I'd like to see you do any better!"
Kagome's laughter died down into light giggles and deep gasps as she wiped away tears of mirth. "Okay" she sniffed as she grabbed the bow and slung the bucket of arrows professionally over her back. She gave Inuyasha a lopsided grin before she shot an arrow and it slamed dead center of the target, she didn't even give Inuyasha time to gasp as she pulled out arrow after arrow and shot them with the sleekness of running water into the target.
When she was done she leaned back to appreciate her art work, where a target sign had stood, now stood a target shaped into a flower by the precision of Kagome's arrows. Only when she turned to look at Inuyasha's gaping face did she notice it was really quiet. Quiet either because everyone was either staring at her, or her gored target sign. "Umm" She shrugged running a hand through her hair's dark length, "beginner's luck?" she said timidly, drowning out the sound of crickets chirping in the awkward silence.
She then felt the light weight of a woman's hand on her shoulder, "Kagome?"
Kagome tore her eyes away from all of the ones watching her to lay them on Kikyo, "yes Kikyo?" she whimpered.
"Hmhmm" Kikyo cleared her throat, as she took her hand off Kagome's shoulder, "you were supposed to only hit the target, not make a floozy floral print! This is damage of school property. You shall come see me after school and make up for it, yes?" With that she confidently, if not smugly, turned on her heal and sauntered away with a pronounced swagger in her step, "class dismissed." Not even a second later the bell sounded, reverberating throughout the class room. The sound was ear splittingly after the pin drop silence that had permeated the room not a second before. To Kagome the sound was welcome as with it most of the students began to filter out of the room returning to their normal habits as they left for their next class. Most. Others stood gawking at her not bothering to hide their wide eyed staring. The kind of look that let you know they were talking about you.
Kagome let out a deep sigh, she hadn't even realized she had been holding her breath. She looked at Inuyasha who was still staring at her, she made eye contact and waited for him to say something. Something like 'hey, you're that Miko huh?' or 'OH MY GOD YOU HID THAT FROM ME?'
However, when Inuyasha came back to Earth from wherever his mind had been wandering and elbowed her lightly in the ribs, he gave her a betrayed look. "How come you never told me you could yield a weapon? Not just yield a weapon, but had freaking mastered one!" he began to cross his arms guardedly as he said, "I thought we were friends…"
Kagome was surprised at this, "It never came up in conversation… and of course I'm your friend! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Friends tell their friends about their awesome weapons, it's a fact of life." He nodded in agreement with his words, as if they were the ultimate truth. "You know, you remind me of someone" he tapped his claw against his lower lip as he thought, "just can't put my finger on it…"
"So I see" Kagome sighed, plan failed again , "well I got to get to class" she patted him on the arm affectionately and then ran off, while glancing back to say, "see ya!"
"Excuse me! Hello?" Kagome nosed her head timidly around the property, "Anyone home?"
A door to her right suddenly slammed open, Kagome flinched as Kaede walked out. "Miko! You are fortunate it was I who first noticed you, or the guards would have come first!" she chuckled, "what may I do for you?"
Kagome smiled, ducking her face under a chunk of glossy hair that had slipped out from beneath her head wrap, as she twiddled nervously with the frail hem of her veil. "Well I was wondering if Lord Inu was around…"
Kaede smiled back at the likeable child, "ah of course, he is off fighting some demon or other, he should be back around night fall, would you like me to give him a message?"
"Oh well… umm, actually yes!" Kagome walked timidly closer to the old woman, "could you tell him when he gets back to meet me at the waterfall?" she had begun to skip away when she remembered Inuyasha's stubborn and reluctant attitude, and turned around with a knowing smile. "Tell him he should have no trouble finding it, if he just listens." She gave her another smile, this one meeker than the last, as she continued to walk away, "If it's no trouble of course!"
"Oh no priestess, no trouble at all." Kaede waved as Kagome began to waltz away, now feeling a little lighter than before.
"Thanks!" Kagome replied over her shoulder as she continued back toward the South. Kagome silently praised herself as she made her way through the forest; speaking to him in this time, was her best idea yet, they would not be interrupted in her private oasis! She'd finally be able to tell him what she'd been trying to all day.
Kagome smiled nervously as she watched the fading deep orange sunlight dapple through the thin sheet of vines above her, to play with the shadows along the tepid water hovering over her feet. She lost herself for a moment in the warm intricate dance of shadows and light, but the chilling nervousness and aching anticipation seeped through and brought back the purpose of her presence here. Inuyasha would be coming soon -Something she was becoming acutely, increasingly aware of with each speeding beat of her racing heart thrumming a frantic tempo against her chest, yielding equal amounts of angst and excitement in what she was about to do.
The pressure of the desire to tell him, and weight of her secret had been pushing on her chest for too long, and finally tonight with the arrival of Inuyasha, would she gain release from the aching pressure. She would breathe again, free as the gentle breeze stirring ripples on the water at her feet. Her past deceit that was so unlike her; she would return to her roots, her core. Herself… Honest, open, light and hopefully gain a budding new friendship! She hoped… she knew.
A shiver of excitement coursed through her at the prospect as Kagome closed her eyes and took a deep steadying breath to still her shaking limbs. Trilling with eager anticipation, Kagome then dipped down and ran her fingers affectionately through the silky water, "ready?" she asked it with a zealous if somewhat nervous smile. She was about to tell him her greatest secret after all; nerves were to be expected. The water warmed as it flickered crimson and gold at her touch, she could feel the encouragement the water offered, and knew she was not alone.
She drew strength from that knowledge; she was not alone. She was never alone in this wondrous place; the thought brought a smile to her lips. That small comfort was the drop of water in her pool of trepidation that caused waves of ease to ripple through her, changing her surface emotions to a flowing courageous, compounding, confidence that washed away her anxiety, doubt and any sense of dread she felt.
She looked down from her lofty perch at the pinnacle of the waterfall, drinking in the breath taking beauty of the place; lavender and azure flowers budding along the lushforest green vines and aquamarine moss woven in intricate patterns amongst the mosaic, stone rim of the waterfall forming an enchanting contrast of color and design one could loose themselves in trying to decipher for hours. New patterns and motifs never failing to present themselves - to someone who would look until they could truly see.
From the serenade of flowers lining tresses of plant life in varying shades of green, elegantly woven between, under, over and around the picturesque stone adorning the falls; a wonderfully pure, pungent and piquant floral scent suffused the grotto. This intoxicating scent was made all the sweeter by the light, mouth watering honey dew mist wafting off the water combining to make a nectar Kagome could hardly hold in the urge to constantly sniff at, something she could only see Inuyasha doing… (Hehe he would so do that). It was far more like an intoxicating elixir than anything else.
The waters, as rich in color as it was in scent, and painted with dancing, ever-changing images on it's playfully shimmering surface; to say the least, the grotto's beauty overcame her senses. She gazed in wonderment with wide, curious eyes contemplating just how much more intoxicating it must be for Inuyasha with his hanyou senses; marveling at the thought that it could be more intoxicating.
She looked towards the basin Inuyasha had dove, swam and basked in during his prior visit; through the smoky haze of the surrounding mist, the limpid depths offered to hereyesrecollections of Inuyasha humming softly while floating nonchalantly around the pool's unrefined edge. Herself, smiling at the sight while swishing her feet in the water nonchalantly; she could almost hear the echo of their voices and his humming.
She wanted more times like that with him, she hoped that things would not change between them… she hoped that… A shudder coursed through Kagome as her vision began to cloud; letting her worries wash over, her excitement of moments before draining from her like sap from a maple tree in the fall. What if he got angry? He tended to get angry or irritated at the littlest things, she could just imagine how much more glorified his anger would become, at her rather large confession. But anger, anger she could handle, because she possessed a fury as unruly, unbridled, fiery and fearsome as his own. One that once ignited made her a more than well equipped match for him.
However, Kagome shivered at the next thought that entered unbidden into her mind, what she wouldn't be able to handle was if he was disappointed, or hurt deeply, and grew distant towards her. She could just imagine his warm sun golden eyes glazing a cold, rainy gray as he narrowed them emptily at her, only to turn around the next second and leave without another glance through the thicket. Leaving her in tears. Kagome shut her eyes tightly, trying to blot out the image; but to no avail; it was as though the stoic, soulless, eyes she had envisioned were fixed to the back of her eyelids. Haunting her vision…
Kagome shook herself sternly out of her chilling daze, rubbing her arms, for comfort, as if the steam around her had somehow grown frigid and still. No. She was overreacting, a reaction like that was far too mature, and well… cool for Inuyasha. Still, she couldn't help but worry, she was only a teen with an over reactive imagination after all! Kagome defended herself. She gave a little laugh at that thought, before spinning lightly on her heel to rearrange a few dangling vines. Positive thoughts, she told herself; everything will be fine, better even after today. Right, she shook herself mentally everything would be fine…
Inuyasha winced as he took a deep breath, alright, he could do this… "Ok, breath", he told himself; "on the count of three", his brows bent in his sour angst "one" he began to brace himself as he counted, "two" he began to squeeze his eyes shut in his dread, not feeling ready for the last number, in the least "three!" he grunted. His eyes clamped completely shut and as a grimace placed itself firmly in place upon his face. His ears stuck out to the sides and back in his displeasure. He tore the cloth with a slow, long, painful *rip*.
"Eeargh" Inuyasha shuddered as he twitched his ears away from the horrendous sound, he could not stand the sound of tearing cloth, he didn't know why it gave him the shivers… but it did, and always had. He heaved a sigh of relief and irritation at having finally completed the ear shuddering task; but it was finished, he had made it through it; so he set to wrapping the cloth around his wounded arm. He knew it would heal by morning, he just didn't want the miko to see him… wounded. Or at least he didn't want to bleed all over her grotto - waterfall - place- thingy!… whatever she called it…
He sighed as he glanced at the half moon and small cluster of stars peaking out over the setting sun. When he had come back from defending the Oshai village from a sea beast, he didn't even have a chance to rest when Kaede stumbled in and told him he better leave soon, because the miko had stopped by and invited him to the "waterfall" hours ago, and it would be rude not to show up. That dried up old hag. Lecturing him on manners… like he didn't get enough lectures. And it's NOT like he was supposed to be at the miko's beck and call like a love sick puppy! The North and South may not be at war, but they weren't exactly allies either… they just sorta ignored each other. He was under no social obligation that required, that obligatedhim to be polite! Inuyasha huffed to himself as he continued to wind the cloth around his arm.
He didn't give a damn about being polite, or whether or not that little miko would feel snubbed, although he did find her interesting. But he decided to go because he found the waterfall intriguing, and ONLY that.
So he had set off, grumbling, stomping, and throwing branches to the side, when he noticed his arm bleeding. So he cursed and punched a tree when he realized what he had to do.
- Tare
- Cloth… *shudder.*
But he had done it, and now the only thing left on the agenda was to find the waterfall, the only problem was he had no idea where it was! All in all he was in a pretty darn foul mood.
He tried pressing his ears forward again, it didn't work, so he started circling them around like radar… nothing. He cursed again, simultaneously banging his head back against a tree - why couldn't he hear it?
He really had no where else to go, and nothing else to do, so he just sat against the tree, watching the darkness of night slowly begin its attack on the day. Soon he began to relax a wave of drowsiness threatened to over take him; he was tired and, the smell of pine and fresh grass was just so alluring to his nose lulling him further. The sound of birds singing, and fresh water pouring, was so soothing, almost like a lulla- wait a minute… water… pouring? Inuyasha jumped away from the tree as if it burned at his touch; his ears, nose and body now tense and alert. He hopped up into another tree and began his assail on the sound, he had found it!
Excited the little bugger had not escaped him, he smiled and almost let out a whoopee! as he landed softly on his feet and strode up to the vine encasement. "Thought you could evade me didn't you, you sly… waterfall?" he joked with a haughty drawl and atrade mark smirk, although with a more serious air also as he raised an frosty eyebrow and began to pull back a section of vine.
Embarrassedly he added "It's okay, you're not alone… no one can escape these babies!" he pointed meaningfully with a wild grin to the two triangles on the top of his white tangle of alabaster silk. Before abashedly lowering his hand, at the realization that he was talking to an inanimate object… and might actually be going crazy. Oddly enough he was powerfully reminded of the miko, well perhaps not oddly he amended; after all the first time he had watched her and she had talked to the items he had produced for her. "Maybeher insanity is contagious"; he thought as he shook his head emitting a low, chuckle.
Now THAT chick definitely had a few screws loose!
"You know what? Never mind…" he mumbled hastily, a bit flustered as he pushed back another section of weedy wall, he was almost there he figured, by the closeness of the sound of rushing water, and how he could hear the delicate trill of all of the smaller waterfalls.
The heavy floral and dew scent that entangled with his senses as he pulled back another section of the vines, raising his eye brows from surprise; he hadn't expected to get there so soon.
He had at first meant to pull back the section fast and forcefully, but the scent that lay behind the last of the thick, twine, guarding curtain, he felt the need to savor the moment as he sniffed at the air ( hehe told ya he would do that). He remembered the last time he was here, basking in the hot, sweet depths of the water, with the miko by his side, carelessly dangling her legs over the water, adding a few soft kicks into its rippling depths.
But as he pulled into his mind, caressing the moment, his balance was almost disturbed at the shocking impact of memories that began to flash before his eyes. A smile, the smile of Kagome, large and sweet. He inwardly berated himself, why was he thinking of her at a time like this? "Stupid, don't think about her when you're meeting another woman" he scolded before realization at his inward thoughts hit him… "wait… meeting another woman?" Inuyasha was exceedingly confused at that thought, did he feel like he was cheating on Kagome when he was with the miko… CHEATING? How could he feel like he was cheating when he wasn't even with Kagome - him being with Kagome was such a ridiculous notion, he almost laughed. They were just friends, he didn't even know if he could label them that, when all they seemed to do was fight and constantly try to one up each other.
She was so irritating sometimes, like what was up with that little drawing and those notes during English anyway?
Yet the memory of her doodle only seemed to make him smirk, secretly he thought her little drawing was cute… however poor the quality of it was. But even then, all she would do was try to put him down in some way, like her derogatory comment about swords. So what if he had started the argument first by putting down the bow, it didn't excuse the fact that she had an unrelenting temper most of the time, while the rest of the time she…
Inuyasha's hand froze its timid drawing as more pictures encased his disheveled mind, her eyes dewy and sparkling under tepid moonlight, her hair swishing in dark glossy masses from side to side as he watched her skip perkily to school. Her scowl, a half smile, her quick tongue and sweet words. Her comforting grin and soft touch. Her voice, her - Inuyasha's eyes widened drastically in shock - seriously,
WHAT -
THE -
HELL.
Was wrong with him? *bops side of head*(shakes frustrated fist, you like her you thick headed dolt!)
Okay so maybe he actually liked Kagome… but just a little, it's not like he was falling head over heals. He just liked her, as a person, a friend, and that was all. DENIAL! Coughed a voice in his head. "I am not in denial", Inuyasha reasoned with himself; "we can't be near each other for more than a minute without World War Three breaking out - or another Cold War if we're in class. As if I like her in that way! She may be kinda cute but we can barely stand each other!"
Feeling convinced, and frankly a little less flushed, he schooled his features into an impassive line, then proceededtoshouldered his way past the vines, and into paradise. All Inuyasha could do was stare blankly for a moment, grasping at all the mouth watering details with his hungry eyes, before he realized something was missing; the miko.
He scanned the low frothy pockets of water, finding nothing he allowed his eyes to wander over the trailing moss and vines running the length of the grotto and traversing up the sides of the various waterfalls. The miko was no where to be seen where was she?
Then he heard it; the slight movement of shallow water, and he felt her presence behind a mop of vines concealing the surface of the highest pool from view, "so that's where she was"; right by the crest of the waterfall, the pinnacle of the glade.
Why didn't she say anything, did she not know he was there? He was about to yodel out a greeting when he was stilled by a long somber note that rang out from the base of the pristine water fall, which had now slowed its flow to a melancholy waltz, as its waters shaded rose, faded into the other pools, each one's water flow diffusing into separate measured speeds.
The varying speeds of the waterfalls echoed a different note in their clear, richly colored depths, but all together they were unified into song, an aquatic symphony. With vines, coated in water collected from the sweltering mist, would drop off into the resonating depths, each drop strumming a light, airy note. his curiousity was sparked, waterfalls weren't supposed to...sing.
A new tone then joined the orchestra of water; rising to the forefront of the spellbinding composition, was the sweet, gentle thrill of the miko's voice, fresh as a clear sky and morning dew on prairie grass. Energizing the song with a new life. A pure willed beckoning that drew his feet into staggering obediently towards the water's lapping edge to gaze dazedly up in confusion and awe at the miko gliding out from behind the vines to smile nervously, but confidently down at him from the high waterfall's edge.
And then with the intro of the abyssal symphony building to a climax, her song began;
Water singing bright
Let your song be heard-
Glistening, thrilling, flowing
Let your liquid gold, grow and show
The power you hold…
Lulled into a trance, Inuyasha didn't try to run or even escape at the sudden movement of the waterfalls as they shimmered and took on a life of their own; their flow leaving the ground, and wrapping in a silken, sultry, incandescent dance around him. The frugal light from the retreating sun and proceeding stars reflecting off of the misplaced ethereal streams, illuminating the grotto with a warm and iridescent caress.
But the miko seemed unfazed by this as her words continued, their silvery ring, like that of harmonizing bells, glided with unwavering speed through the gleaming liquid.
But do not overtake,
With the power you entail
He's a friend, you shall help prevail!
She gestured toward Inuyasha at the last line, as if soothing the water, grown too wild with its power.
Instead help him understand
The connection between our hands
The connection between you -
And me…
The lilting echo of the ending line causing a shiver to prowl down his spine; the water now glowing fiercely tangled itself with Inuyasha's loose limbs as if zeroing in on long eluded prey. Inuyasha subconsciously arched and tensed back at the alien touch, his conscious mind fully alert and yet stunned beyond the capacity to think, he was frozen as though trapped in a dead lock - with in his own mind! Unable to give or concoct an action command; his body was semi conscious and able to do little more than tense and flex. So Inuyasha stood back arched, muscles tense. Until he began to really feel the water, warm yet hot, it soothed. His muscles began to loosen at its touch, laced with…was it affection? Tenderness? Care free elation? A pure desire to nurture and love? Maybe it was all of them at once, he couldn't tell or seem to make himself care as the alien touch grew angelic and familiar, lulling him into semi consciousness, and yet it seemed to energize him also; a renewing of strength. Then just as quickly as it had as it had entangled him, it remembered its place, and dulled as it faded slowly back to where it belonged. Slowly reigning in Inuyasha's consciousness, and fury at the realization of just how weak he had been a moment ago, of what had just happened to him.
The music dimmed, to a hushed whisper and then nothing, as the sky darkened with the fall of night time, the once iridescent glow that filled the secret, celestial spot, dissolving to the normal twinkle of starlight.
The grotto now silent and seemingly normal with the sound of earthly rushing water renewed. Kagome waited patiently in the silence, and was rewarded with the sound of a sharp intake of breath from below her as Inuyasha's eyes flew open and he growled, his claws contracting as he slashed at where the waters tendrils had been.
It was a moment before he stopped his instinctual response, realizing that he was snapping at stagnant air, his eyes then locked onto hers.
"What did you do to me?" he demanded.
She flinched at the sound, it wasn't the reaction she had wanted, but she chided herself in the fact that he might be scared because he didn't fully comprehend what had just happened. She would just wait for him to settle down.
Inuyasha was only more infuriated by her silence, not that he was angry before, he was just trying to mask his incompetence and unease. He hadn't understood what had happened as the music had seemed to lull him into a trance. He had felt only a slight twinge of fear as the warm water had warped around him. He would never admit it, but inwardly he had welcomed it, it had made him feel… good. No not good, incredible, unearthly, exhilarated! But as the end of its otherworldly pull neared he realized it was something foreign and he should have fought it rather than let it touch a hair on his head. This knowledge is what prompted the realization that somehow he had lost control of his body and could not have stopped it even if he wanted to. Loss of control period, was not something he tolerated, it was something he feared.
He had never lost control of his body before, and this is what filled his heart with anger and adrenaline, but most of all fear as he snapped out of the trance, lashing at where the water had been, only seconds before.
He wanted an explanation.
He deserved one.
No he needed one, why had all of that happened, what did she do to him?
But she wasn't answering, she was just standing there with her eyes down cast.
What the hell…
"Answer me!" he shouted vehemently, his fists clenching "what did you take? What do you want?" he stepped menacingly toward the water's edge, another growl shuddering for release from the back of his throat.
He was scared, what if she had damaged him, or… or taken away a part of his demon power? This thought only served to amplify his distress, further fueling his growing fear fed wrath.
"I want you to answer me!" he growled again, giving into instinct; his foot now traipsing the water's edge, but as he was about to step into it and spring up at her, the water near his feet bled red and sparked at his foot's touch, he jumped back. "WHAT THE HELL!". He yelled, using his favorite choice of profanity for about the third time that day.
Inuyasha had met his mental overload limit, she had hypnotized him with her voice, probably stolen a part of his demon power with that water thing, and now the water had attacked him, shocking his foot, and it had hurt like a mother f*$#r. This was not a good day. He grabbed his foot, as he let out a stream of curses below out at his frustration, despair and hurt. Almost drowning out the miko's voice with the bravado of obscenities… almost, but not quite.
"Inuyasha!"
She called the third time, but he hadn't really heard her.
So she tried again, this time more forcefully, "Inuyasha! Would you just shut up for a moment?"
The silence after her last line was unknown to her as Inuyasha froze and she continued on.
"My word! Were you raised by sailors? I have never heard someone with as foul a mouth. Your language is indecent! Abhorrent! Despicable! Anarchic! Disgraceful! Malodorous!" She ranted, circling and gesturing wildly along the waterfall's edge, completely consumed by her temper.
Well she had quite a vocabulary didn't she… Inuyasha thought a little blankly and with ill hidden irritation. She was like an itch you couldn't scratch.
"Loathsome! Nefarious! And oh, did I say FOUL?" she grated, anger pulsing through her every nerve. Hot and wiry it egged her on to the point were she was still ignorant of the fact that Inuyasha had indeed stopped and was paying complete attention to her.
"And you just don't know when to shut up! If you would just listen to me for once!" she threw her hands up with a heavy, mellow dramatic sigh, "you just make me soooo mad sometimes!" Her body flared with a fiery aura, her eyes narrowing onto his egotistic form with the finishing of her rant. wait, how long had she been talking, and how long had Inuyasha been standing there, quite...with that ' I-am-not-amused' face? She gasped, her eyes drawn wide as she immediately slapped a hand over her loud mouth at the realization that he had actually been listening to everything she had said. Where was a nice sized hole she could crawl in and die in? One was never around when she needed one.
Kagome hadn't meant to say all of that, erm, stuff. Most of what she had said was out of pure, unchecked anger formed into words of poison darts. She had thought he was still busy ranting himself and most definitely not listening to her…wasn't it most men's jobs to tune a woman out when he didn't like what she was saying anyway? To say the least she was mortified. "Uuumm" she shuttered, gawking at his wide eyed, arms crossed, unabashed staring. He probably thought she was a freak. "I'm so sorry!" she shouted, now fearing his wrath, well not necessarily his wrath, but his hate and possible revulsion. Her shoulders drooped as shame crept across them, she was also a little tired out. Yelling really took a lot more energy than she would have ever have thought possible.
She could see that he was about to open his mouth and, judging by the throbbing vane in his forehead, she knew his next words would be scalding hot. Interruption seemed her only safe option, or a distraction of some sort...or that hole she dreamed of dying in. Kagome prayed he'd listen to her for once so she'd have the chance to get things back on the right track. Why did plans always seem to go awry when Inuyasha was involved? Her hands left her drooping sides as she frantically held them up in the sign of *stop* suddenly grasping onto an idea. "Wait!" she shouted, "before you say anything! Lift up your right arm!"
Inuyasha was about to protest; he really wanted to lay his anger on her, nice and thick like scalding honey. And he thought, why the hell should i do what she says? But then he caught her eager urging glance and felt a soft ping inside. Much to his own surprise, he did as she said. "And… what about it?" he growled staring at his now raised arm, unimpressed.
She smirked smugly. "There was a huge gash there only a few minutes ago if I recall correctly."
Now it was Inuyasha's turn to have his eyes grow alarmingly wide as he brushed his hand over the flawless skin of his once wounded arm, he knew he couldn't possibly have healed that fast. And great, he tore cloth earlier for absolutely no reason.
"How did you…" he whispered looking expectantly at her.
"It was the water…" she answered back just as silently, suddenly grown shy as she turned her head away, keeping her back to him, "it's the grotto's power, it heals… when I sing." She took a deep calming breath; "because my miko powers are connected directly with nature, I can control the water with my voice, increasing its healing power."
"I don't understand…" he mumbled, still running his fingers distractedly over his tingling flesh.
She sighed glancing back at him and smiled. "Remember when I first brought you here and I had been injured… you started humming. And the water healed me." she turned to face him apprehensively, tinkering with the hem of her skirt and looking down, not able to meet his eyes yet.
Inuyasha thought back, and distinctly remembered her having a hop in her step after they had left the grotto, now that he thought about it, humans didn't heal that fast - so she should not have had that hop in her step, it should have been impossible…
"But why?" he asked, his attention now focused on her and her next words.
Her eyes connected hesitantly with his as she stilled her anxious hands. "This grotto is special" she gestured. "It is a direct link, a sort of portal to the essence of nature itself. It likes the human voice when we sing, or at least it likes some human voices." She laughed, light heartedly at the last comment.
"It can read a person's nature through it see the essence of their soul, know if they're good or bad. Because that is what are voices are, a link to our souls. It liked my voice." She smiled at the thought that the grotto liked her voice, but this made her feel a bit conceited, she then added with a slight blush "and it liked yours too. It has accepted me and you as well, that is why we can hear the waterfall while others cannot."
Inuyasha's brow crinkled, what did she mean it had accepted him and what did that have to do with his and hers ability to hear the waterfall?
She smiled knowingly at him, she had expected his confusion, and sought to remedy it immediately. "Remember how you couldn't hear the waterfall when we first approached it?"
She paused, waiting for him to nod for her to go on, he did. "I bet that you couldn't hear it before..."
He scowled, that minor incident had been quite a blow to his pride. Kagome continued on like she hadn't noticed. "But you hummed when you were in the pool… and after we left, I bet you could here the waterfall too" she smirked knowingly at him.
Inuyasha was shocked, so that was the key to the waterfall; humming? It was just too simple. But she was right, he could here the waterfall after that incident, but it was just so far fetched!
She smiled again at him, "I know, it seems impossible, but this is no fairy tail". Her eyes began to sparkle as the edge of her eyes crinkled with the widening of her smile "It's true, attainable, and real!" she insisted enthusiastically, glad she no longer had to keep this wonderment to herself.
And Inuyasha believed her, there was something in her eyes and her pure, passionate tone, that led him to believe that she was telling the truth and he could trust her. A rare thing that only a few people in his life… Inuyasha's stream of thought trailed off as he remembered something.
She had called him Inuyasha…
Not Lord Inu, just Inu, or Hanyou - the possiblitiies of all the things she could have called him instead of his actual name were endless. And yet she had used the one name he had left behind in the future. She had called him Inuyasha. A low note struck in his ears as his heart began to race… how did she know his name? He knew he had never told her it. Something was definitely off here. Inuyasha's prior unease and tension returned tenfold; she had so very nearly fooled him into trusting her!
"Y-y-you" he stuttered, stepping defensively back into a half crouch and his voice deepened with a growl, "called me Inuyasha"
"… What?" the miko asked in a far away voice as if suddenly pulled out of a daydream.
Inuyasha stopped his jittering and planted his feet in a dominant, sure stance on the ground. "You called me Inuyasha." He glared, "I heard you." He was now sure of that. He could always depend on his ears.
Kagome blanched, she actually hadn't realized she had let that slip, "I what?… I'm sure you must be mist- "
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Inuyasha's irritation and confusion surfaced in hot ripples. He knew something had been off, he just knew he couldn't trust her!
Kagome sighed, resigned. She hadn't meant to slip up earlier, she had had a much smoother plan, but better now than never.
"I know your name" she began, while nimbly making her way down a path hidden in elusive shadow from the top waterfall, stopping a few feet in front of him to bring her face into the starlight, illuminating her illustrious eyes.
She took a deep breath, avoiding his own eyes "because" she pulled off her veil and let her wrap fall in a silken tangle to the ground, her hair teeming from its prison into onyx waves as the slight warm night breeze blew them gently forward. "Because" she began again, her eyes taking on a scintillating glimmer he knew only too well. Their gaze tender, open, and familiar, begging him for acceptance as the connected with his.
"I am Kagome."
A/N: whoooo! Finally! I'll bet you all thought he'd NEVER find out…now I'm a head out…before you all start throwing rocks at me and push me off of the cliff of my own cliff hanger hehe.