CHAPTER 3
Inyasha leaned back into Goshinboku and thought about what he was going to do with Kagome. I'll tell you what to do with her, suggested a gravelly voice in the back of his mind. Not like that, his mind insisted to his demon counterpart. I know you want her, but what about what she wants? She's not even from this time. What if someone from her time could offer her something better? His demon growled darkly at the idea of another male offering anything to Kagome. The wench wants us. Have you not smelled her? Have you not watched her? The bitch burns with desire and yet you sit here like a pup! Do you not know what to do about it? Shut up! She is a friend. That is all she can be. I have promised to go with Kikyo. I owe her my life for what was taken from her. KIKYO?! BLECH!! The demon in him sounded like he was trying to brush his tongue. Have you smelled that undead bitch? Why would you go with her? She couldn't bear pups and she couldn't keep us warm at night with that cold, clay body. Besides, you are only seeing our wench's soul in her. Kikyo never laughed freely nor did she love freely. The wench can look at that little fox runt with the love of a mother and look at us with the love of a mate. How do you not see that?! Inuyasha's demon began to run image after image through his mind of the times Kagome had cried for him, had approached him when he was full demon and had been brave enough to reach through to him, when she had held him when he had killed those bandits, when she had saved him from Kikyo when she was trying to take him to hell. Then his demon ran images of Kikyo through his head and Inuyasha began to see the things he had been denying to himself. Kikyo trying to purify him when she had been resurrected, stealing the shards from Kagome after shooting an arrow at her, stealing the souls of young women in order to maintain her half-life, Kikyo wanting Inuyasha to become fully human, and Kikyo trying to drag Inuyasha to hell after hypnotizing him. Inuyasha shook his head like a dog with water in his ears. His demon waited impatiently, growling lowly. As soon as Inuyasha quit shaking his head, two more images flashed through his mind – Kagome kissing him to bring him back to himself and Inuyasha responding and kissing back then hugging her to his chest; Kikyo kissing him while he was hypnotized and him NOT responding. Those two images burned themselves into his mind and Inuyasha began to analyze them. If he was hypnotized by Kikyo, why didn't he respond to the kiss? Because you know who you are truly meant to be with and you knew it even then, snarled his demon. To prove his point, the demon replayed the kiss between him and Kagome and how he had come back to himself to realize it was Kagome and had kissed her back. See you foolish whelp! She is our mate, CLAIM HER!
Inuyasha sat stunned as he realized he agreed with his demon. He DID want Kagome, but he was worried. He wasn't stupid (he was also ignoring the snort from his demon at that thought), he knew he had hurt Kagome by pushing her away, but her scent was enticing. Inuyasha didn't want to hurt Kagome, but he didn't want to ask her to choose him as a mate, because if she declined, he wouldn't even have her as a friend. Inuyasha had long ago decided that he would rather have her forever as a friend than ever ask her to be his mate, no matter how hostile his demon was getting with him. He knew in the end his demon would never jeopardize his ability to smell Kagome by pushing the issue either. His demon keh'd in response, but remained silent.
Inuyasha was drawn back in thought to the night 2 weeks ago when Kagome had checked him for injuries. She had yanked his shirts off so quickly he had been stunned and had been flooded with images of Kagome ripping his clothes off for far more carnal needs. He had flushed at the images, but he couldn't keep them at bay. As Kagome had let her healing powers thrum over his skin, he could only imagine what it would feel like to have her lips and tongue brushing over his skin, too. It wasn't too long after her cycle, so her scent hadn't been completely overwhelming, but his thoughts had nearly done him in. Just the thought of her hands, lips, and tongue caressing his body had caused an instant hardening. Thankfully his hakamas were baggy, otherwise his blush would have been ten times worse.
Inuyasha settled in against the tree a little more and let his imagination drift. He could see Kagome in that ridiculous outfit she still wore even though she wasn't in school anymore. She said she wore it because they could be ruined and she wouldn't care, but he thought she wore it just to work him and Kouga into a frenzy. Before his demon could get agitated at the thought of that flea bag, Inuyasha drifted back to Kagome. Her body had definitely changed in the last three years, but he had only really allowed himself to notice the past year. He had been able to keep thoughts of Naraku and his revenge at the forefront of his mind, but as time wore on and he and Kagome got closer, he began to view her differently.
Her body had lengthened even though she still only came up to his shoulder (humph, guess he was growing, too). Her hair was now almost to her lower back having grown a few more inches, however, it still maintained its wild wave that made him want to wrap his hands in it from behind and draw her into his embrace. Her curves had filled out quite a bit, too; not that they were lacking to begin with. However, no matter how feminine and curvy she got, her temper could still rival his. Too bad it made him hot. Often he got sat just because he liked to see her toss her hair as she turned away, sending a rush of her intoxicating fragrance his direction. Not to mention that anger added a spice to her scent that about had him whimpering some days.
Inuyasha knew, despite the hardened length in his pants, that he really missed her presence as a friend the most. He had no doubts that he would find her the most beautiful person in his world no matter how long he lived, but she was the first friend he had since being pinned to the tree. He had learned what absolute trust was with Kagome and knew that she would always stand by him, as he would with her. Vowing to stop keeping Kagome at a distance, Inuyasha closed his eyes.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha twitched his ears toward the monk at the bottom of the tree and growled a soft warning. Not heeding the advice, Miroku commenced speaking.
"I need to speak to you about Kagome. Sango tells me she spoke to her today and told her that her scent is the reason you are being more belligerent than usual. I understand that you are drawn to Kagome and you don't want to hurt her, but Kagome will probably think you are disgusted by her and she will be hurt anyways by your avoidance. Kagome is a beautiful girl and deserves better than to be pushed away because you aren't mature enough to handle a little attraction. What if Kouga were to snatch her away? You know he wants her as his own. You are supposed to protect her, you vowed to do so with your life. However, she has vowed to stay by your side as long as you want her to. If she thought your avoidance was a sign that you didn't want her by your side, what do you think she would do?"
Inuyasha keh'd, but on the inside he was a little scared. What would Kagome do if he thought he didn't want her with him? Not about to go bounding towards the well with the monk watching, Inuyasha broke off a smaller branch and tossed it in the direction the monk was standing. Of course Miroku dodged it and he made his way back to Kaede's. Inuyasha sniffed once to make sure he was gone, then leapt towards the well for Kagome's time.
Once Inuyasha safely reached Kagome's time, he heaved a small sigh of relief. He was a little afraid she might have sealed it from her side. Breathing deeply as he headed towards Kagome's home, he noticed that the scents of her family were faded, as if they had been gone for several days. Knowing that Kagome's time was different, he was worried about her being there by herself. Being smarter than the average hanyou, he decided not to go into her room. Instead he jumped into the God tree again and settled himself back against the branches. Tomorrow, Kagome, you and I are going to have a discussion about things, even if I have to tie you up. Imagining Kagome tied up brought some very Miroku-esque thoughts to mind, so Inuyasha closed his eyes and thought of bloody fields, Naraku's smile, and Kaede's missing eye in order to calm his arousal.