Deceitful Time
Chapter Twenty-Two: Treachery

"Kagome, hurry up," Inuyasha requested a bit harshly while he slowed down to look back at her. The day before they had all agreed that it was in their best interest—well, Sango's—to head up the rocky mountain in search for Kohaku. Perhaps it would lead them to Naraku, perhaps it would lead Sango to finally finding her most precious little brother, or perhaps it would get them all killed, who knew? By night they got more than halfway up the mountain only to run into another set of demons attacked them. All got away without more than a few cuts and bruises and Kohaku was once again gone, they could only assume to return to wherever Naraku's lair was. After that they all decided to give up and go back to Kaede's to regroup and decide their next plan of action.

"It's freezing! Why did we have to go up in the mountains…?" she whined while she hopped about trying to warm herself, just like her hands tried to bring heart back to her arms. Yes, yes, she knew it took her pushing the subject for them to actually head up the mountain to see if they could find Kohaku and, yes, it seemed like a good idea at the time until she realized the farther up they went the colder it got. "Why did they have to get lost in this type of climate? It's going to snow I just know it!"

"Keh," he scoffed before flicking off his suikan to drop on her head. Midway through the day 'somehow' Sango and Miroku had separated themselves from them which really pissed him off since that meant they had to linger up there longer and look for them and he was the one that had to endure Kagome's constant complaints. "Here, that's why you shouldn't wear that outfit, idiot."

"I had a very reasonable outfit on earlier!" Kagome countered as she willingly took his suikan and wrapped it around her arms. Her snug, warm, sweater had been a causality in their fight with demon last night, much to her dismay.

"Whatever," he grunted.

"Do you think that Sango and Miroku are alright? You don't think that a demon—"

"Don't worry about them," Inuyasha ordered as white flakes began to fall from the clouded sky.

"Why not?" She complained as she tried to speed up so she would be by his side instead of behind him but her ankle only hurt more from all that had happened so she pressed her lips and kept with her slower steps.

"They do this a lot lately," he murmured.

"Do what…?"

"Wonder off like this, together."

"Why?"

That got Inuyasha to stop and turn to look at her with a cocked brow, "really?"

"Really," she replied wearily, why was he looking at her like she was stupid? What was it that he got that she didn't?

"There's a hut, I don't smell anyone maybe we can stay there until the snow stops," Inuyasha nodded in the distance. She didn't see anything but she shrugged and followed him nevertheless until a brown spot appeared a ways up the hill.

"It doesn't look like there is anyone here," Kagome declared as she walked around the small one-roomed place, "it doesn't look like anyone's been here in a really long time."

"Good, stay here, I'll go get firewood."

"OK," she was more than willing sit down where the fire would be and huddle in his suikan… "wait, Inuyasha!" She shouted as she hopped to the door, he was there far quicker than she had thought so she jerked back and almost fell but he caught her wrist and pulled her to her feet before she ever hit the ground.

"Klutz," he muttered with a shake of his head, "what?"

"Here, take this with you, it's too cold for you to wonder around looking for firewood without it," she requested as she pushed his suikan into his chest.

"You'll be fine here without it?"

She nodded with a smile, "I'll be fine."

{xoxoxoxoxo}

The blaze of the fire kept them warm as the white whizzed about outside, the door was securely shut the best the sliding old thing could and Inuyasha had covered the one window so the frigid wind couldn't burst the heat that had been built up. The night had set in which only made it colder and even though she tried her best not to show it as she scooted closer to the fire his golden gaze still caught her small shivers as she closed her eyes and rested her chin upon her raised and huddled knees.

Did he have much of a choice? He didn't think so, so he got up and dropped his suikan once again on her head so she could use it as a blanket—since the abandoned place hadn't any lying around.

When she opened her eyes and let the suikan slide down to her shoulders she saw Inuyasha walking back over to the corner he had been sitting in the entire time. Her eyes wondered to the red fabric that always kept her tepid… was this alright? How was it that the short amount of time she had spent with Inuyasha had been able to spark such… intense feelings?

"Hey," Inuyasha muttered after some time, catching her weak attention, "I have a question…"

"Alright."

"What…" his eyes flickered to her for only a moment before she looked to the side, "what's up between you and that Shiro guy?"

"What are you talking about?" She averted as she, too, looked away from him.

"When… we found you… you leaped into his arms almost right away."

She could just be problematic, she could pretend she didn't know anything, she could ask 'what's it matter to you?' and she was sure that he'd stumble over some words, scoff something, and grunt out something rude then that would be that but… she sighed, "did I?"

"Yes," he kept up.

"What's it matter?" She mumbled anyway as her eyes migrated to him, "you two are the same—"

"So you really think he's me? What five hundred years later?" He snapped.

"I really do," she whispered.

"I don't care if that's true or not we're not the same person," he asserted swiftly as his gaze locked with the blaze of the fire.

Of course… of course they weren't. She knew that, she knew that the one that was waiting on the other side of the well for her was far more mature, handsome, and well adjusted while the boy that sat a few feet from here was immature, cute more so than anything else, and still shattered, still fragile… but, so was the other. He didn't act like it but she could still tell that there was a pain in him from all he had to endure, a pain she wanted to stop…

"You never answered me, anyhow," he gripped, "would you rather be there with that Shiro guy or here?"

"With you?" She added what was missing, his eyes snapped up to her then. "Honestly?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"Frankly, I don't know."

A hush fell over them then, nothing but the howling of the wind as it swirled the snow around and smacked against the old wood that constructed the hut. His eyes fluttered constantly between the walls, fire, and her—always lingering there the longest. Once they caught each others wondering glances but looked away until it happened again.

"Hey, do you think… that fate is something that's preordained or something? That can't be changed no matter how hard you try? Or do you think it's something that you make… something that you can decide for yourself?" It was the one thought that tugged at her mind the most, the one thing she'd like to know the most, so why not ask? How could it hurt?

"What are you talking about?" He retorted.

"Like… fate, you know, destiny. Do you think that everything is already planned out by the gods or some supernatural being? Do you think that everything's already written? Like who we meet throughout life, who becomes our friends and who becomes our enemies, who we fall in love with?" Her eyes couldn't help but wonder from the fire to him then, "and which of those romances work out and which bring us heartache? Or do you think there's no such thing as fate and everything just happens without any rhyme or reason?"

For a while he just sat there in his usual stance, his arms crossed and legs folded, his eyes intently locked on her. "You are talking about that stuff Shiro told you about? About you dying?"

"I guess, sort of," she sighed, "but I'm mostly talking about in general. Do you think we can change fate or not?"

"I think…" he began weakly before he sighed, "I think you think too much 'cause in the end I don't think matters, Kagome. Either there is or isn't but it doesn't do you any good to think that much about it."

She pressed her lips together in a smile as she nodded, sometimes even the immature Inuyasha could be intelligent in his own way. "Inuyasha," she seemed to almost glow once she caught his golden gaze on her, "come over here, you'll catch a cold if you don't warm up." He wouldn't catch a cold but… he'd be more comfortable closer to the flames, he knew it, so he got up and walked over to sit beside her anyway. Promptly she gave him back his top, "you look cold."

"You need it more than me, you're just a human," he growled before pushing it back. A fight followed, it was like playing 'keep-away' but eventually she won with a threat of 'S-I-T' and he put it back on. "Now you're cold, 'cause of that ridiculous outfit of yours."

"How was I supposed to know we were going to go up into the freezing mountain only to have a blizzard break out?" She countered before scooting closer to him, her hazels once more upon the flames. If she had known that she would have brought a winter jacket with her... The longer they sat there the more she let her worries fade, her boggled mind settle with the present instead of worrying about the future or past or whatever it was that did or didn't seal her fate, "you could… hold me… to keep me warm."

It was a nearly hushed request and he hesitated to oblige but… he wanted to, it was the perfect excuse, so he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. A moment passed before they relaxed into each other, another until he held her tighter. Was it right or wrong? She couldn't tell, he was Inuyasha and Inuyasha was her boyfriend… was it cheating still? Even though they were the same person? Or was it OK if she was in the past with this Inuyasha and just as alright when she was in the future with that Inuyasha?

Why did everything have to be so complex?

It wasn't until nothing but the beating of the blizzard that she looked up to him, her smile had faded. Did she want him to let her—no; when she leaned up to allow their lips to meet he knew she wanted him to pull her closer, so close that they almost meshed together. She didn't really mean to kiss him, she just turned off her mind—her judgment—and let her feelings take over. Hunger drove him to prying open her mouth so that his tongue could invade hers, lick it, twist with it, and outline the roof of her mouth. Even though their kiss had progressed far past gentleness he took tender care in removing his suikan from her shoulders and let it fall upon the wooden floor to lie her down upon it.

Flawless, she was simply flawless after their initial tangle of tongue, smothering lips, hot breath, loud beating chambers, and stumbling, worried, nervous fingers fiddling with the others clothes for them both to end up bare. Her eyes were unrelenting, unashamed, but only halfway opened as she looked away so he could let his greedy gaze etch each of her curves and every bit of her bare, perfect, pale skin into his memory.

"Kagome," he whispered before leaning in to kiss her ear, "Kagome."

"Inuyasha," she breathlessly gasped when she felt a no-longer-foreign and still highly welcomed sensation purge her body from its former frozen form. Was she whorish as she arched towards him while he moved his clawed finger about? But he was the same person that had first done this to her yet… it was so different as she dug her nails into his back when he added another unskilled digit—he wasn't as well versed in the carnal act as he was the last time they tangoed. Still, he could figure out enough as they carried on so that he could figure out her most sensitive spot that his thumb played along with as he quickened his thrusts.

His kisses trailed down her neck until they reached her valley. That was when he choice his side to assault, first softly, with just a series of kisses until his textured tongue met her hardened nub. Her breath quickened as he nibbled there.

"Inu… yasha!"

That was it, to hear her cry his name—or was it for the other him? Either way, it gave him such pleasure, such a new sensual, fabulous sensation…

{xoxoxoxoxo}

"There you guys are!" Kagome cried out as she scurried through the snow—thank gods she was wearing boots at least—and hugged her dear friend. "We were so worried!"

"The storm caught us by surprise, we are sorry for making you worry, Lady Kagome," Miroku apologized, "you two made it through the blizzard fine I see."

"Yes, we are sorry," Sango kept up with a sweet smile as she pulled away from Kagome's embrace, "shall we head back down the mountain and return to Kaede's?"

"Yep, let's do that, Shippou's probably really worried about all of us," she chimed before they did just that.

"Kagome," Inuyasha grasped her wrist before they got too far—Sango and Miroku were ahead of them and either didn't noticed or pretend like they didn't.

"Huh?" she replied as she stopped to look at him.

"Let me…" he glanced away before managing to continue, "carry you. You're ankle still hurts, right?"

"You didn't want to carry me yesterday," was what she was ever so tempted to say but she bit her lips instead. One night of intimacy would spark him to act a little different, wouldn't it? Her ankle did hurt so… why not?

The entire trek down she just kept her gaze loosely locked onto her friends ahead of them. They didn't appear different; they still walked side-by-side with the usual distance between them. Their hands were not interlaced, they didn't talk more, but they were smiling more… what did they do on their 'mistaken' separate trips away? It wasn't really any of her business but she couldn't help but be nosy. Inuyasha had told her last night that he didn't know what they did together but they always reeked of each other when they returned… somehow she doubted they actually had sex. In the Feudal Era it would always have to be unprotected which would mean Sango could get pregnant and while that'd make a merry Miroku he highly doubt it'd be what Sango wanted. That would mean she'd have to give up on the fight against Naraku and finding her brother… and she would never do that. In the end the two would end up together she was sure… well, then again, Inuyasha—Shiro—had never mentioned what became of them…

Nope, she closed her eyes as she rested her head against Inuyasha's shoulder once they started on even land. She wasn't going to worry about the future, she made herself promise that. Inuyasha was right if things were written and destined to be they were going to happen—whether she thought a great deal about them or not—and if things were up in the air she should just do what she always did, what her heart and soul told her was the right choice, and everything would be fine.

"Inuyasha," she whispered once the shelter of the woods covered them.

"Huh?" He replied, he had been acting so different throughout the day… he was calm and quiet but not out of angst or anger—like usual—but out of peace. He was happy, whether he admitted it or not and she was too, whether that was wrong or not.

"How much longer do you think it'll take until Naraku's dead finally?"

"I donno," he muttered back.

"I wish it was over with already," then Miroku would be fine and him and Sango could get started on that family she knew they both wanted to replace the ones they lost.

"You wanna go home?"

"I didn't say that," she sighed, "I just want it to be over. Over and everyone OK."

"Yeah," he whispered, "me too."

{xoxoxoxoxo}

"It's been forever since I've been in a hot spring," Kagome giddily awed as she sank deeper into the steaming water, "I missed it so much."

"Inuyasha says in your world you have a mini-hot spring in a strange container so you can bath in one whenever you want," Sango said.

"That's true but it's a bath and different… there's something about a hot spring that makes all my worries wither away," she took another deep breath as she rested her head on the bank. The heat also helped loosen up her twisted ankle. If only she was in her world she would be able to take a pain killer.

"Kagome…" Sango started wearily as she scooted over closer to her friend, "I'm just curious… you don't have to answer but… the other Inuyasha," it was clear from the implication of her tone that she was still struggling over that concept, "and you seem… close. The way you leaped into his arms that day and out of Inuyasha's…"

"I don't remember that," she countered quickly, "all that's a fog…"

"OK," Sango dragged out. If Kagome didn't want to talk about it then she wouldn't pry.

"What do you and Miroku do when you go off together?" Kagome inquired with a tilt of her head, she couldn't help but smile when she saw how pink her cheeks got and how flustered she became. "Don't worry if you don't have to answer," she giggled.

"Mi… Miroku and I don't do anything," Sango stuttered, "we don't… we just spend time together… alone. It's nice."

"I didn't think you did."

"Do…" her eyes wondered back to her friend, "you and Inuyasha do… anything? Either Inuyasha… I think Miroku wants to do more than just spend time together…"

"Don't worry, Sango. Miroku loves you. I bet he really doesn't care, as long as he can be with you."

She smiled with a nod, "thank you, Kagome. I know even if he doesn't act like it Inuyasha—our Inuyasha—loves you."

A smile raised her lips but weakly, before that would have lifted her heart now it brought her a weight she'd rather not have to endure. She knew Inuyasha loved her but… so do the other. And she loved him, too, but… both of them.

"Sango," Kagome sighed as her eyes wondered up to the clear star covered sky, "I have a problem…"

"What is it?"

She pressed her lips together for a bit before she just spat it out, "I love Inuyasha but… but I love them both. I love the one I know that's waiting for me in my era and I love the Inuyasha here. Is that wrong? Does that make me fickle?"

Sango's eyes moved all along Kagome's furrowed face, "I don't know, Kagome, I can't imagine what that would be like… he's a lot different, isn't he? The one that waited that long for you… and you are sure he's Inuyasha?"

"Positive," she grumbled, "they are really different… Shiro," she imagined it was easier for her friend if she said that, "really loves me. He was hurting for so long until I met him… he didn't remember a whole lot about me but he's been recovering his memory steadily… and he's charming and mature and handsome but really popular with woman so… I'm always jealous of his past girlfriends coming around. They are gorgeous woman and he always tells me not to worry because he loves me the most and has been waiting for me and they keep turning into lesbians or something," she shrugged before biting her bottom lip and looking from the sky to the steam before her, "then… Inuyasha, well, he's Inuyasha, you know? He's difficult, immature, stubborn, rude, overly protective, but cute still... and I used to be so sure that I loved him and wanted to be here with him… now I don't know, but that doesn't mean I love him any less. It's just… I mean, they are the same person but… not."

Sango just nodded along, she wasn't so sure about the term 'girlfriend' or what a 'lesbian' is but she felt she got the essential parts of it, "I'm sorry, Kagome, that sounds difficult… I don't know what I could say. I mean, I am partial to you choosing Inuyasha, of course… but I don't know what's best for you. You like your world, don't you? You'd miss your family if you choice to stay here with Inuyasha when everything is done… but if you were with the other Inuyasha you wouldn't have to do that."

"But then I'd miss all of you," Kagome frowned, "if I did that… I'd miss all of you while I was gone. I was worried."

"It's just not easy being you, huh?" Sango tired her best to laugh it off.

"Yeah," she sighed, "but it's not easy being you, either, huh?"

"No," Sango groaned, "I wish that life was easier sometimes, don't you?"

"Oh, gods, yes."

{xoxoxoxoxo}

"You wanan try again, huh?" Inuyasha inquired as he folded his arms and rested against the well. He had thought that since they got to the village just as night took the sky that she would have wanted to just go to sleep instead of bothering to check on the well but he was wrong... Four days in a row of having her around should feel like only a short time in comparison how long she usually stayed but it did, and he appreciated it. He didn't want her to go. He wanted the well to still be sealed and them to head on with their journey together. "What if it's still not working? Can we leave tomorrow?"

"To go search for jewel shards?" Kagome meekly asked as she looked up from the dark bottom of the well to Inuyasha, "OK. If the well doesn't work this time we'll leave tomorrow." That would be what fate wanted, right? That would be what it was telling her, right? Hopefully, that wasn't the same as 'go die already'.

"Here," he picked her up without much of a warning, "I'll take you down, then."

She didn't even get a chance to reply before he jumped down. To his dismay and her delight they wooshed through the blue, flowing, starry portal before they landed on the other side. Both of them looked up to see the roof instead of the opened sky. She could hear him let out the breath he was holding before he leaped out and set her down.

"Well… it worked," she shrugged as she looked away.

"Yeah…" he gripped, "so now what?"

"You go back," she whispered as she bit her bottom lip, "and I'll come back later."

"Yeah, whatever," he grunted before he stepped onto the well, "bye."

"Wait, Inuyasha!" She grabbed his suikan to keep him from jumping. "I… I promise to come back. Just give me two days and I promise I'll be back! With my bag and supplies and everything and we will go look for shikon shards again, OK?"

His shoulders sagged slightly before he sighed and turned around to look at her, "alright, fine."

"I promise, I'll be back in two days."

"What if that guy keeps you from coming? Like he seals up the well again?"

"He won't," she murmured, "if I'm not back in two days come and get me, OK?"

"I will," he scoffed as if it was ridiculous for her to even suggest he wouldn't do so otherwise. "See ya' in two days."

"I'll see you in two days," she smiled as her hand slipped from his kimono and he faded away...

She let him go.