Disclaimer: ='( I still don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 3: Sleeping is overrated, anyways.
Life resumed a normal pace after Kagomes encounter with the "baboon." Well, as normal as things could be when essential standards of living, like time, were absent. Inuyasha and Kagome continued to work on fixing the shrine from dawn until dusk. Much to Inuyasha's dismay, Kagomes ability to help fix the shrine hadn't improved at all. However, her jaw was becoming fine-tuned.
"I can't believe we aren't alone here," Kagome prattled on. "What if whatever that thing is can help us get out of here?" she asked for the 5th time.
Inuyashas ears flattened onto his skull. Was there no mercy in this world for those who had to endure countless pointless questions?
"For the last time, wench," the word came out as a hiss through clenched teeth, "I don't know!"
Silence. Inuyasha relaxed his jaw and freed his ears from their death grip on his head. Peaceful, blissful, silence dragged on and he resumed his work on the shrine's roof. The stinging aroma of saline reached his senses first; followed by small sniffles.
His ears flattened to his head once more.
Dammit of all the...He hadn't meant to make her cry. He peaked his head over the side of the roof, just enough for one eye to see, and saw the girl sitting on the ground. Her knees were pushed up to her chest and her back was shaking with soft sobs. Black hair cascaded down her back like a river.
Inuyasha ducked his head back.
The half-demon stared at the loose roof shingles with longing. In all the time he had been stuck there he never gave a damn about fixing the falling roof before. Fixing it had never even occurred to him until...until that girl showed up and started fixing it herself. That girl who was still sitting on the ground sniveling.
Kagome. He thought inwardly.
His spine tingled strangely at the thought of her name. He didn't like it.
Puppy ears peeked over the side of the roof once more.
"Look," He began, "just forget about it."
Kagomes head picked up from he knees, shocked that Inuyasha said anything. She exhaled in resignation.
"I guess you're right..." she muttered.
Puppy ears disappeared behind the roof and resumed their work.
"It might have just been my imagination after all." Inuyasha heard her say.
He paused momentarily in his work.
It definitely wasn't her imagination.
Knowing that was all she was going to get out of him, Kagome started circling the sides of the shrine looking for anything they could use as tools. A few large stones were logged into the base of the shrine and collecting them seemed useful. During her rounds, Kagome stopped in front of the X that lead to the inside of the shrine.
Inside was a jewel. Inuyasha had called it the Shikon Jewel.
She took half a step closer, unconsciously.
I wonder why he guards it...she mused. There must be some reason. Something special about it or something.
Her eyes were focused entirely on the X-shaped doorway blocker now.
So focused that it surprised her when she walked into a solid wall of muscle.
Kagome shook her head, blinking hard. She hadn't even noticed herself walking forward.
"What are you doing?" Golden eyes narrowed at her. A low growl vibrated between them.
Getting lost in thought.
"Nothing." She answered, looking up at him. "Just getting some more working material." She held up a few of the rocks she had collected as proof.
Inuyasha continued to glare at her.
She laughed at him in return. "Lighten up!" she said merrily. "I don't want your shiny pebble."
The tingles returned to his spine at the sound of her laughter. He still didn't like it.
He must have still been glaring at her because she cocked her head to the side, made a strange puffy look with her lips, and said "Why so serious, Inuyasha?" Before bursting into a small giggle fit.
The growl returned but his glare softened significantly.
"What's so funny?" He asked, trying not to sound too interested.
Kagome shook her head in response, wiping away her laughing-tears.
"You probably wouldn't get it." She said.
"Keh!" Inuyasha crossed his arms and started walking away.
Kagome walked up next to him, still smiling.
"You're a little bit like him." She stated.
"Like who?" He asked.
"Like the Joker!"
"Like who?" He asked again, genuinely confused.
Kagome shook her head again and went silent for a moment. When she finally looked up at him she gave him a strange, intense look.
"He's my favorite super-villain." She told him.
Inuyasha walked ahead of her now. Kagome stared at his retreating figure. The look on her face deepened as she watched him go.
Definitely my favorite. She thought to herself.
-B-B-B-
Kagome wouldn't go into the hot spring anymore. She was sleeping as close to the inside of the shrine as Inuyasha would let her. The dirt and filth on her felt like a second skin and made her feel constantly uncomfortable. The grease on her scalp would itch and when she would itch it the grease would cake under her finger nails. Then she would itch elsewhere on her body and the grease would get on her skin. It was a never ending cycle of unfortunate itching.
Still, her apprehension towards the hot spring was all consuming. Not even the terrible itching made her want to go back. Occasionally she would notice Inuyasha catch her itching if he was close by. The look her gave her made her flush with embarrassment and run away from him. What she wouldn't give to have it rain for just a small time.
The more annoyed she grew at her human needs the more observant of Inuyasha she became. He was incredibly strong, non-fidgety, and intense. His self-control was unwavering and his ability to notice things was unmatched.
Kagome was keeping her distance from him. Mostly, hoping he couldn't smell her, and partially because her day dreams were making her uneasy. With every glare she got from him she thought she would melt. And not in the bad way. Or maybe it was the bad way.
This particular night kept Kagome tossing and turning with discomfort. Every time she rolled to one side her other side would itch. Eventually she was so frustrated with her useless itching that she curled in on herself and tried not to scream.
Something feather light touched her face. It smelled rich and intoxicating.
Slowly uncurling from herself Kagome opened her eyes and met the gaze of two glowing, golden, orbs.
"Keep at it and you're going to rip your own skin off, Bitch."
"And what's it to you if I do, Inuyasha?" She snapped back at him. "Leave me alone. I'm tired."
No sooner had she made to roll back over and ignore him did it take for him to have her scooped up and thrown over his shoulder.
Instead of screaming in fright Kagome stared at her retreating makeshift bed, dumbfounded. She was getting used to his sudden weirdness.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked him incredulously.
"That's the stupidest question you've asked yet." His tone was thick with mockery.
Kagome scowled. It really was a stupid question. When you're stuck with one person in a time-barren zone with absolutely no where to go asking where you're going is a bit redundant...and pointless.
A shiver trailed up her spine.
"I don't want to go back there, Inuyasha." She protested weakly; absentmindedly scratching the side of her neck.
He didn't answer her. She knew why: he didn't care what she wanted.
All to soon she was bucked off his shoulder and tumbling into a hot, itch-free, abyss. Kagome swam franticly to the top from the surprise. The hot water soaked through her grease-ridden hair and soothed the itchy patches of skin. Brown eyes surveyed their surroundings wildly.
Inuyasha was resting up against the nearest thick tree. The red of his pants barely visible behind the thick trunk of the tree. Heart beat slowing down to a dull hum, Kagome relaxed. He was going to stand guard for her. She melted.
Kagome approached the side of the spring timidly. "No peaking." She said, preparing to take her shirt off.
"Keh," she heard. "Who would want too."
Kagome soaked in silent bliss. The knots of tension in her shoulders and back unfolding with each pleasant heat pulse. She must have been an masochist; denying herself something as pleasurable as this and enduring the darn awful itching. A smile graced her features as she sunk further into the spring. Masochist no more.
Staring up at the night sky that shone through the parted tree canopy above, it was difficult not to think of her family. They must be worried sick about her.
"So..." She started, filling the silence. More for herself than anything. "Do you have any family, Inuyasha?"
Silence answered her. Brown eyes peaked to make sure her bathing guardian was still there. Sure enough- he was.
"I do, you know." She heard him shift slightly in her direction. "A mom, a grandpa, and a little brother too."
Inuyasha paused momentarily before speaking.
"Where are they?"
The japanese girl laughed quietly in sullen amusement.
"Probably at home sleeping. Mom will probably make pancakes in the morning for my little brother. Grandpa will go into the shop and pray to whatever God he can for my safe return."
He didn't ask anything more after that. Kagome took that to mean he was done with the conversation.
After taking a few more minutes to soak and clean Kagome rose out of the spring and dressed herself.
"You still haven't told me how you ended up here." She offered, pulling her shirt over her head.
Inuyasha stiffened behind the tree trunk, grateful for its cover. How he ended up here...
A devilish grin plastered itself on his face. Taking quiet, calculated steps the half-demon slowly made his way over to the oblivious girl. She was ringing the excess water out of her hair with her back turned to him. Slowly, he bent over and whispered in her ear:
"I'm cursed to be here."
Kagomes heart slammed up into her throat as she whipped around, nearly smacking Inuyasha in the face with her wet hair. Seeing how close he was she instinctively took a step backwards. Her footing fell out from under her. Before she had time to realize she was tumbling back into the hot spring a clawed arm clutched her waist; halting her fall.
Fierce, golden eyes stared into confused and surprised brown ones.
"C-cursed?" Kagome asked him timidly; still not quite sure what was going on.
Golden eyes smoldered.
"For all the evil things I did. I'm too dangerous to be trifled with." His voice was thick with intent.
The japanese girl swallowed loudly. Her eyes searched his for any hidden meaning.
"Y-you're teasing..." She trailed off, not really believing her own words.
The devilish grin presented itself again.
"Not as dumb as you look after all." He said, releasing her.
Kagome glowered at him while he snickered in satisfaction. Once his back was safely turned she brought a hand up to her chest. Her heart was fluttering wildly underneath her palm.
He was dangerous alright. And not in the villain-esque ways like the Joker. Inuyasha was dangerous in wild and exciting ways.
And she was definitely in danger of not minding.
-B-B-B-
Taunt, triangular ears swiveled around in the night, ever alert. Inuyasha sat comfortably in a tree closest to the shrine. His gaze locked on the doorway that lead into the shrine and the girl sleeping next to it. She had slept peacefully after their trip to the hot spring.
Stubborn girl. He thought. If he hadn't made her bathe that night he was certain she would not have gone on her own. She was resilient.
The girl rolled over in her sleep, tossing back and forth and mumbling incoherently. The mumbling ceased suddenly and she shot up in her makeshift bed. Without the groggy fumbling of a person who has just been woken she got to her feet and walked in the direction of the X covered door.
Inuyasha knit his eyebrows together in confusion. Something was wrong.
In one fluid motion he swept down from the tree and dashed to the girl.
"Hey, Wench! What do you think you're doing?" He growled out menacingly.
Kagome seemingly ignored him and continued to walk towards the X covered door.
Inuyasha grabbed her shoulders to stop her from getting inside.
"Didn't you hear me?" He shouted at her.
No response.
Inuyasha whipped her around to face him and stared into a pair of eery, pupil-less eyes.
He shook her shoulders franticly. His grip was enough to stop her from moving inside the shrine but he could feel something tugging her inside. As if every inch of her was being pulled inside the shrine.
"Wake up, Bitch!" He shook her harder. No luck.
Whatever was trying to pull her inside the shrine got stronger. His grip on her shoulders was slipping.
He panicked.
So he bit her.
Marble white fangs pierced the junction between her shoulder and neck and she woke with a wild gasp. Inuyasha leapt away from her instantly. Snapping his jaw shut, mind reeling.
The dizziness came first and her knees buckled under her shortly after. Inuyasha stopped her fall with ease and gently put her on the cold wood of the deck. Taking a few steps back he fixed his gaze on her, waiting for her to come to.
Kagome brought a shaking hand to her head and sat up slowly, taking in her surroundings. Inuyasha was standing a few feet in front of her. The look on his face was like none she had seen before.
"I-Inuyasha?" She asked, her tone strung-out. "What's going on?"
"Hell if I know! One second you were sleeping like the dead and the next you were trying to get inside the shrine." He left out the part where he bit her to wake her up.
Brown eyes blinked at him with confused acknowledgement. Kagome brought a hand to her chest and said nothing.
Silence was not what he needed right now.
"What is it?" He asked, the edge in his voice dying.
"It's so warm." She sounded more fascinated than concerned.
Inuyasha let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.
Would the weirdness never end as long as this girl was around?
Authors Note: Thank you everyone for all the wonderful reviews! I really appreciate it. They encourage me to write faster! :)