Chapter Eight
Mrs. Higurashi smiled to herself as she crawled in bed. 'That boy is something else. Kagome choose the perfect person to give her heart to, don't you think dear?' She asked the picture of her husband. He'd been smiling down at the camera, when she'd taken it. 'I think so too.' She turned her light out and went to sleep.
Kagome yawned, looking around at were she was. She realized that she was lying in her bed. 'Mom must have gotten me in bed.' The thought didn't seem right. 'I didn't know mom was so strong.' Shrugging it off, she'd lost a good deal of weight since the incident. Kagome walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her mom was standing at the sink washing two cups. "Did you have company this morning?" She asked. She headed for the bread sack; she kissed her mom on the cheek when she put her pieces of bread in the toaster.
"You could say that." Her mom said smiling at her daughter.
"What do you mean by that?" Kagome leaned over picked up her pieces of toast. Hearing the door slide open, she turned to greet one of her family members. Putting a smile on her face, she turned to the door. She dropped her toast, when she brought her hands up to her mouth, in a silent gasp, when Inuyasha meet her eyes. He was standing there looking at her. "Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha heard the door open into the kitchen, then the smell of cooking bread. Getting up, his sensitive ears picked up the sweet voice of Kagome. Walking out of the living room, and heading across the hallway, he opened the kitchen door, and saw that Kagome was leaning over to grab something from the counter. She stood up, and turned a smile on her face, until she came in full view of him; she dropped her toast, and covered her mouth, his name coming out from behind her hands. He looked at her a moment longer, and then he cleared his throat.
"Hi." He said, she became a bit pale, but a least she didn't faint, like she looked about to do.
"Hi." She replied. Hitatome, Mrs. Higurashi, saw that neither of them was going to move until she said something.
"Why don't you two go into the living room? I'm sure you need time to talk." She nudged Kagome towards the door. Kagome turned to look at her mom, nodded and walked toward Inuyasha in bit of a daze. She walked across the hall, into the living room, waited until Inuyasha walked inside, shut it, and then sat down a little away from him, not saying anything, just looking at him, as though he was about to disappear. Finally she gave herself a bit of a shake, and asked.
"Why are you here?" She noticed that there was a pallet lying on the floor a few feet from her. It looked slept on. 'So he's been here for awhile.' Then she remembered the two cups, and her being moved to her bed. She blushed, 'He must have moved me.' Looking at him, she waited.
Inuyasha swallowed, 'This is so much harder than I thought it would be.' He could feel her eyes bore into him. His palms started to sweat, and he began to panic. 'What am I going to say?' He looked at Kagome, and Mrs. Higurashi's words came back to him. 'Just say what is in your heart.' Still looking at her, he swallowed again, and then opened to say what he knew he had to say. "Kagome, I'm really sorry." He couldn't look at her. Those brown eyes were burning him, like they could see right through him.
"Inuyasha, are you here to say goodbye and your sorry." Tears were laced into Kagome's words. Inuyasha brought his head up, and could see the tears gathering in her eyes. "So you've chosen-?" She looked away from him, unable to finish. "What have you decided?" Kagome couldn't almost spit the words out. 'He's leaving me.' Crept in her mind, this made the tears that she had been fighting, fall onto her cheeks. Inuyasha was at her side in a minute. Holding her in his arms, trying his bet to sooth her tears; she let him comfort her for a moment, before she looked at him, she needed to know. "Are you going to tell me, or not?" She was angry, and weirdly it made it easier for Inuyasha to spit it out.
"Kagome, I'm not leaving, I came to say that I want you to come back." Kagome stared at him, not sure she'd heard him right. "Kagome, this is really hard for me to say. You know better than most that I've had a hard time trusting people. I hated you when we first met. You looked some much like Kikyo. Then I found out about Kikyo's death, and even though I hated her, I felt guilty. I felt guilty that I lived and she didn't. The jewel shard shattered and we started our quest, to find them all. We met Shippo along the way and I saw a different side of you, the caring side. When that witch woman brought Kikyo back to life, I felt I had a debt to pay. So I kept pushing you away. We met Miroku, and I experienced my first fit of jealousy. I hated the fact that you could do that to me. I'd begun to trust you, and think of you as my friend, instead of an obstacle. We found out about Naraku, and his deceptions. And then we met Sango, and all of a sudden I realized I wasn't alone. For the first time, I had friends to keep my secret about the new moon, I had a goal set, and it was all because of you. Time went by and I realized that you were becoming more important than the jewel and Kikyo, and that scared me. I was more worried about your safety than I did about anything. Every time we fought I would fight even harder so that you would stay safe. Now it's been a year and we have them all. I could have made my wish, but I didn't feel right without you being there. I don't even want to become a full demon, because you said that you like me just the way I am, and so am I." Kagome was really crying now, she knew how hard it was for him to talk about his feelings and now he was, just for her. She knew that she had pushed him into telling her, but she didn't care, and she hoped that he could forgive her, for making him do this; he looked so, vulnerable. He'd stopped talking, and was waiting for her to say something. She knew what it felt like now to be in such shock that you couldn't move, and Inuyasha being so insecure he wasn't sure what to do now. She was crying, and to him that meant that it was too late.
Inuyasha's heart felt like lead dropping down into his stomach. Getting up he walked out of the door and headed for the well. He'd given it his all, and he felt a bit sick, and really embarrassed for saying all that he'd did. He'd never said that much in his entire life. He walked slowly out the front door, and headed straight for the well. Still in a daze, it took Kagome a minute to realize that Inuyasha had just left, wiping her tears she stood up, 'He loves me.' Going through her mind as she rushed out of the house, looking for him, she saw that he was already past the tree and heading for the ell. 'He loves me.' Running, she followed him, he was about to jump into the well by the time she got to him. Breathing hard form running, Kagome could barely get out his name. Sucking in a lot of breath, she said the first thing that came to mind.
"SIT!!!" Inuyasha, who was used to hitting the ground when she said that, he almost fell over, before he realized that he didn't wear the prayer necklace anymore. He turned around to yell, why'd you do that for? When something hard hit him in the back; it was warm and smelled of trees and a flowery smell. 'Kagome.' Registered before he heard her voice say in his ear. "Inuyasha, don't go. I love you, please don't leave me." Inuyasha came around in her grip. She was still tear stained and her hair was rumbled, and she was still wearing her tank top and short, and his prayer beads; but to him she'd never looked more beautiful. Cupping her face again in his hands, Inuyasha looked straight into her eyes. Kagome swallowed and her Adam's apple rose and dropped with the motion.
"What'd you say?" He asked he needed to hear her say them again, this time to his face. Kagome saw that starved look in his face, and she knew too that he needed to hear her say it; she needed him to hear her say it.
"Inuyasha, I love you." Kagome was given only a second to register what was about to happen. Inuyasha's hands came around her, pulling her so fast into an embrace that she opened her mouth in a gasp, and then Inuyasha's mouth came down on hers. They weren't hard, just eager to have a taste, to know that it really was her. He wasn't dreaming, she was really in his arms. And she loved him. She loved him, of all people. Feeling the guilt starting to come over him for all the wrong doing he'd done against her, Inuyasha held her more closely to him, deepening the kiss farther still.
Kagome's arm tightened around him. She wanted to savor the kiss and make it last. But she knew she would need to breathe eventually. 'Use your nose.' Came an answer from deep in her mind, the only part that was actually still working. Kagome did and brought in a deep breath of air through her nose. Inuyasha's lips twitched against hers that could only mean that he'd just smiled.
He didn't know what to do. A sense of over flowing was clutching at his control, something he'd never felt before. A sense of total belonging. At Kagome's continual breathing, her breath kept tickling his check. Finally Inuyasha knew that he needed to break the kiss, it was starting to slip from his control, and that was too dangerous. Slowly he pulled back his head, bringing away his lips. A breath apart, but feeling it was too far Inuyasha rested his forehead onto hers, breathing in her scent deeply. Inuyasha cupped the back of her neck in his hand and rubbed at it, loving the different textures between her hair and her skin, there at the nape.
Kagome relaxed against him, breathing in his natural forest scent. 'He smells like the scared tree.' Kagome thought. She smiled, 'it always made me feel safe, just like now.' Sighing Kagome pulled back slightly, they needed to talk. Kagome smiled up into Inuyasha's questioning gaze, and told him just that. Inuyasha nodded his consent, and headed for the house. Kagome wasn't ready to go back inside yet pulled back on his arm.
"What is it, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome smiled.
"I just don't want to go inside yet, can we just walk around here or something?"
"Okay," Inuyasha got a look on his face. "Hey, Kagome have you ever seen the top of the scared tree before?"
"No why?" Inuyasha didn't answer, instead he grabbed her around the waist and jumped. Kagome gave a little scream of surprise. When Inuyasha landed on the top of the tree he kept his arm around her waist. Kagome lifted her head from his shoulder and looked out. The sun wasn't all the way into the sky yet, so the view looked a bit distorted. But the view it did make, was beautiful. The lights that where reflected off of the windows, made it look like hundreds of rainbows and stars. Kagome sighed at the sight.
"Do you like it?"
"It's wonderful. I've never since it like this before." Kagome smiled up into his face.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Inuyasha made a move to sit down, when Kagome stopped him again.
"There's not enough room for both of us to sit."
"Duh, I knew that." Inuyasha picked her up bridal style and sat down, putting her in his lap. "Now talk already."
"Inuyasha what's going to happen once we use the jewel? Without it I can't travel between the times. I can't leave and stay in your time, what about my family? But if I don't I'll never see you again. I couldn't live with myself with either decision." Kagome moved so that she was a little more comfortable. When she moved she felt a twinge in her stomach. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, connecting his hands on her left hip.
"What would you wish for?"
"Uh, what do you mean?"
"I asked you, what would wish for, you know on the jewel?" Kagome thought about it. If she could wish on the jewel to keep the well open then she could keep traveling in time. But she couldn't. 'The barer of the Jewel has to make an unselfish wish for it to be purified.' "Kagome, are you there? Hello!"
"Oh sorry. I was just thinking. That if I wish in the jewel for something only for my self it would be selfish. And that wouldn't purify the jewel. So no I have nothing else to wish for. I got what I wanted most, it's just going to be a little harder trying to keep it. That's all." They stayed there for a while. Both in their own thoughts.
Inuyasha knew that it shouldn't be so hard. 'There has to be a way. I won't lose her. I will find a way, but until I do we won't wish on the jewel.' Content with that idea, and just holding Kagome, Inuyasha pulled her close.
"Kagome why don't we just not use the jewel yet, until we can figure out what to do. We can stay here or go back to the feudal era, until we do." Kagome nodded her head in agreement. Having come up with a solution for now they relaxed for a few more minutes until they heard Mrs. Higurashi calling for them to come eat breakfast.
The day went by without any other incidents. Inuyasha stayed for both breakfast and lunch, but now the sun was starting to set and he was getting a bit anxious. Finally after watching him pace the floor, of her bedroom, for an hour; she decided to ask what was wrong.
"What's bothering you?" She was sitting on the edge of her bed, when he looked at her. She gave him a questioning stare. Inuyasha sighed, and sat down on the floor, in an Indian style, crossing his arms in front of him. He looked at her a moment more before answering.
"I was just wondering what the guys are thinking. Well I have a pretty good idea what Miroku his thinking, but what of the others. I mean what would you think if I'd left in the middle of the night and hadn't returned?" He leaned against the wall behind him.
"Well, if it was me I'd either think something had happened to kept you here or things aren't going as you'd panned." Kagome answered, a thought hit her. "Do you want to go back?" Inuyasha closed his eyes a moment before he answered.
"It's not that I want to leave, it's just I'm not used to my feelings being on display for every one to see." Inuyasha's face did have a bit of a red flush to it. "And knowing that perverted monk, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole village thinks I've deflowered you already." Kagome's face reddened at the statement. Inuyasha must have realized what he'd said too, because now from his neck to his hairline he was red as a cherry and couldn't look Kagome in the face. Kagome decided to change the subject.
"Inuyasha, why'd it take you so long to come after me?" She shocked herself by asking that question, but it was too late to take it back. Inuyasha seemed to grow redder. He didn't answer. So Kagome decided to try and make amends. "Never mind, I can find out some other time." The clock on her bedside caught her attention. It was about two hours till dinnertime. Kagome got up and knelt down next to him. She just wanted to be close to him. When he still wouldn't look at her, Kagome got a little agitated. Moving to his side Kagome decided to take a chance and do something she normally wouldn't do. She lifted his head up with her fingers and kissed him. This time it was Inuyasha's turn to be shocked. He hadn't expected her to kiss him.
It didn't last long before Inuyasha took control, and the kiss seemed to deepen. The hit coursing through their bodies shocked them, but it was a pleasant shock. They didn't hear Souta knock or call Kagome's or Inuyasha's name. When the door opened and a 'Ewe, can you do that somewhere else. Now I'm going to be scared for life.' Finally reached their ears, they pulled apart. The surprising things where, one Inuyasha was practically lying on top of Kagome, and the other was they where more angry for interrupted than at being caught. "Get out!" Was bellowed, then Souta rushed from the room, going to report what he'd just saw to his mother. Kagome laid her head back down onto the floor and looked up into Inuyasha's face. That's when she noticed she was on the floor under Inuyasha. She struck her hands up and pushed him away, sending him into the desk behind them.
"What the hell was that for?" Inuyasha straightened himself up and rubbed his head, where it'd smacked the desk corner. Kagome felt horrible, she rose up and collided his Inuyasha's forehead has he came towards her to yell. Kagome was now rubbing her head and apologizing.
"Sorry, it's a habit." She looked at him; Inuyasha was getting up and heading for the window. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to the feudal era." He climbed up into the window and looked out the window. "Hey Kagome there's that Hobo guy." 'Hojo,' Kagome thought, she rushed for the window knocking Inuyasha out of the way and back into the room. Spotting Hojo coming towards the house Kagome turned her back toward the window thinking franticly on what to do.
"He can't see you here." She said to Inuyasha.
"Why? What's he to you?" Inuyasha was looking straight into her face, giving her an accusing glare. It was the same one he'd use to give her when Koga's name was mentioned. This meant he felt threatened by Hojo. Kagome hated it when Inuyasha got all jealous, it made him act stupid. Like what he was doing now. He'd moved past her and was now going towards the door. Kagome rushed after him yelling at him to go back to her room, but of course Inuyasha didn't listen. He went straight for the stairs, Kagome rushing after him. As he got about half way down the stairs, Kagome ran into his back, sending them once again sprawling down the stairs.
When Inuyasha found them going down the stairs he automatically shielded Kagome's body with his. Their bodies hit the floor and sent them sprawling across it. The knock came, and Kagome rushed for it. Inuyasha was at her back. Kagome pushed him into the living room, hissing for him to stay there. Inuyasha's answer was to 'humph' and to sit down onto one of the cushions on the floor. Kagome shook her head and went back out to answer the door. Hojo was standing behind what looked like a bundle of orchids. Kagome moved them aside and smiled into Hojo's face.
"Hello, Hojo. What's going on?" Kagome stepped out and shut the door behind her. Hojo smiled, and presented her with the flowers.
"Hi Kagome, I brought these flowers to you. I heard you where feeling better and I decided to come say hello. Their great for the indoors."
"Their beautiful, thank you." Kagome always felt weird when Hojo presented her with gifts, it just didn't seem, right. Like she was leading him on. 'Well, I'm not going to do that any more, I'm going to tell him the truth.' Kagome nodded her head and looked Hojo in the face. "Hojo, I need to confess something." The smile left Hojo's face. It was replaced with one of concern.
"Is something wrong, Kagome?"
"Yeah, Hojo, you're a great guy and all but I don't feel the same way about you. I'm in love with someone else." Kagome pushed the flowers back towards him. "I'm sorry if I've led you on in any way, it just wouldn't work for us. I'm sorry." Kagome looked at him, and she felt horrid. His face had this kind of twisted look to it. Like right after eating a really, really sour lemon. Slowly Hojo's face became slack and a defeated sigh came from his mouth. He lowered his head this time. Without saying anything he turned and headed towards the stairs. Kagome wanted to go after him, but knew that would be to mean. At that moment, Kagome got a glimpse of what Inuyasha had put her through when he'd turned his back on her. After all the times he'd done it to her, she'd still forgiven him, and now she knew that he loved her, that Kikyou would never come between them. "I hope he finds someone like that, someone who can truly appreciate him." Kagome turned back toward the house.