Chapter 2 Quiet Before the Storm
The jar remained tightly in my hand and I pushed any weird thoughts away from my mind focusing on the peace I was surrounded with right now. I stretched my legs out in front of me, swinging them like a child and giggling at the stupidity.
Suddenly my stomach grumbled and I reached down in surprise. That's right I didn't even eat my fish. Maybe I can eat one of the bags of chips I stashed in my bag. The sudden rustling of leaves scared me making me lose my balance and nearly fall off of the rock.
"Who's there?"
"There you are." Inuyasha said gently, coming into view from behind the bushes, relief coaxing his voice. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Inuyasha…" I whispered, actually surprised that he came to look for me after all I had said and did to him during our argument, even though it was well deserved. He was so stubborn that a majority of the time I was the one that apologized to him so that we could be on good terms again. He walked closer to me, his eyes holding no hostility for once.
"Still mad?" I simply shrugged mindlessly.
"Not really."
"You don't have to lie." Following his gaze I noticed his eyes were focused on the trees in front of us, as if they held something to truly capture his attention. Thinking about it, I didn't feel any ill angered feelings anymore. I wasn't furious like before, now I was just hungry to be completely honest and my stomach seemed to agree with my thoughts, a small rumble erupting from it. He sighed, nodding and taking a seat beside me on the rock. "Listen, I didn't mean to upset you, alright? I didn't think you'd take it seriously."
That was as close to an apology as I would get from his mouth. I knew him and he was the worst person to ever express any type of feeling that wasn't rage, which he expressed way too often. When fury overtook over his senses, his mouth blabbered away with whatever ran through his mind. There he didn't feel the need to restrain himself, I thought to myself grimly.
"It's fine, let's just go." I hopped off the rock, landing safely on my feet while I patted my stomach after it made its opinion known again. "I'm starving." He gave me a weird look before crouching in front of me.
"Get on, it'll be faster." I nodded smiling and climbed onto his back as his hands held me securely against him. The wind blew against us causing his silver hair to whip around, tickling my nose. It felt nice, because now I knew I was with Inuyasha, any other thoughts evaporated for the moment. It was almost a sense of security when I was on his back like this. When we arrived back to the campsite Miroku was holding his staff in one hand and my bag in the other.
"Thanks," I grabbed the last bag of chips and stuffed them down my throat. Clearly someone had been rummaging through my stuff for this to be the last bag. The greasy salty goodness was heavenly in my mouth and I silently sent thanks to the future for such a great and convenient snack. The sun was starting to set throwing off colors of pink, red and orange across the sky in a rainbow effect while the sun lowered.
"Tomorrow we continue our search, no stopping half way."
"Come, come, stop being selfish and thinking of your needs." Miroku chided, waving his hand as he sat, with his back against a rock. Inuyasha's hands slammed his knees in disbelief at the monk's comment.
"Selfish?! We're here resting because of you guys!" Miroku merely smiled and shrugged not being particularly affected or offended by what he said.
"I was speaking of tomorrow." Inuyasha has repeated to us to no end that because of our human tendencies, we slow him down and that little 'issue' irks him to no end. Especially whenever Miroku asks to stop and rest at every town we walk through, but that's mainly due to the presence of a pretty woman. Inuyasha's hand smacked his face.
"Let us get to tomorrow first, Miroku."
"Enough children," Sango warned wiping her face with a small towel I lent her so that she could wash her face before she went to sleep. "Let's act like big boys." Inuyasha glared at him while Miroku smiled innocently. Dear god those two were such pains.
"Kagome, are you ready for bed?" Shippo asked, staring at the fact that my uniform was still on. Oh, I forgot I had to change. I shook my head, reaching into my bag to retrieve my pajamas and change.
During the night my eyes felt heavy but wouldn't close. The crackling of the warm fire kept me at ease and warm, although, I felt that weird pain in the pit of my stomach, images of our earlier fight flickering through.
I don't know what to do about Inuyasha and Kikyo. One day he may wake up and run away with her and not need me anymore and I'd just look like a fool. I can't blame him though…She was his first love after all. The woman he was willing to spend the rest of his life with. I sighed. I wish I got to meet that side of Inuyasha for a bit. If it wasn't for the cruel twist of fate they would probably be old and grey, married, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. I probably wouldn't have been born as Kikyo's reincarnation either.
However, they were separated and harbored immense guilt, anger and love for each other 'till this very day. I can't compete with what they had. Kikyo was a big part of his life and I can't wish her bad, even if she has wished it for me. She's not a bad person, I guess I see why she's so angry, but I don't see why she's hated me all this time. I didn't do anything to her—I wasn't even born around her time!
"Kagome," Inuyasha's voice pulled me from my night thinking. His eyes seemed concerned as they looked at me, his eyes raking me over once, before he spoke. "Can't sleep?"
I shook my head. "Not really, you?"
"No."
"I probably should try to get some shut-eye." I turned back around and squeezed my eyes tightly shut, forcing any thoughts away from my mind for the time being. There was no use in torturing myself all night.
"Do we even know where we're going?" Shippo was impatiently watching Inuyasha sniff at the ground for a trace of Naraku.
"Shaddup." He muttered his nose not lifting an inch from the ground once.
"Is that even helping?" Sango also stared, unconvinced with his plan. Inuyasha looked up at her, his eyes narrowed to near slits.
"I really hate you guys," Sango laughed, her whole body bouncing with joy as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Feeling's mutual!" She joked around before her face went straight and red, her body turning from a relax position to slight trembles of irritation.
"Ah," Miroku sighed contently a grin plastered on his face. My eyes instantly flickered down to notice his right hand had been grazing her butt and was now squeezing it gently. Sango's reflex kicked in and her hand made a loud contact with his cheek causing a loud 'smack' to be heard in far distances, probably the main reason why birds scattered from the trees wildly.
"Oh, now that's gotta hurt." Inuyasha mumbled shuddering slightly before continuing his sniffing.
"Keep. Your. Hands. To. Yourself." She growled menacingly all while Miroku kept that cheesy smile on his face, a red palm print appearing slowly on his cheek. Now that had to have hurt, it even hurt me, but there he sat happily as if a mosquito had just bitten him. The man couldn't be brought down what could I say. Shippo hopped on top of his head to look up at us.
"Say Sango," She looked at the little fox. "Aren't you guys engaged?" Her face reddened in embarrassment, this time settling for a nod to answer him instead of using her voice. He scratched the tip of his nose idly. "Why does it bother you so much now? At least, it's with you and not other girls anymore." Miroku grabbed Shippo and held him close to him humming in content with his response.
"That's right Shippo!" I reached over and took him from Miroku's arms to hold him close to me, giving Miroku an incredulous look.
"Still Shippo," I looked down at him. "Even if they're engaged it doesn't mean that it's okay to do it in public. It's inconsiderate." Miroku rubbed the back of his head with his hand, smiling slightly, with no indication of shame or regret in his actions. His lecherous ways have gotten better but they haven't completely disappeared. Then again I don't think they ever will…it's like they're a part of him, just like his wind tunnel. Ack.
"That's right Shippo," Sango agreed leaning over and resting her hands on her knees. "And don't learn from—" she swung her fist directly behind her landing straight on Miroku's face before he grabbed her butt, leaving him dazed. "Him." She finished, satisfied, while we all shook our heads at the limp form on the ground.
"He never learns."
Inuyasha stood, his stance crouched but it wasn't an invite for me to climb on his back, but rather it reflected a defensive stance. I followed his gaze up ahead but saw nothing unusual. Suddenly as if I spoke too soon the wind started to howl and blow around wildly.
"Eek!" I squeaked, one hand flying to my skirt to hold the material against my legs so that it wouldn't fly up.
"What the hell?"
"Stay back." He warned in a low voice, his position unfazed, his back hunching even more threateningly.
