Chapter Eleven
'Kagome, please, think about this,' Inuyasha pleaded.
His words fell on deaf ears. Kagome was busying herself with packing everything she thought she might need into her backpack.
It had been one day since Kikyo kidnapped Sota. That is all it took for Kagome to devise a plan. She was now back in her own time, preparing for her mission. Anything she might need on her journey-canned food, a blanket, two torches, and a fresh new set of arrows-was added to her list. It was going to be a long and painful and emotional mission. Kagome needed to be ready for everything.
Unfortunately, at the most important time when Kagome needed to be alone with her thoughts, Inuyasha had decided to follow her through the well.
He continued trying to get her attention. 'It's dangerous. This plan is bad.'
'You know, there was a time when you jumped head first into danger without so much as a second thought.'
'Three years change people,' he murmured.
Kagome turned to see him staring directly into her eyes. She tried not to blush, instead glanced away to tie her shoe.
He continued speaking. 'So you're going to go demon door knocking, trying to find a lead on Kikyo. Then when you eventually-if at all-find her, you're going to kill her? Just like that?'
'Just like that,' she repeated.
'You're going to get yourself killed.'
'Then all your problems will disappear,' was all she said back.
Kagome was surprised to hear a small growl from him. She turned just in time to see him jump off of the bed and storm to her side, towering over her by at least a full head. When did he get so tall?
Inuyasha's eyes were glowing ambers. 'Stop acting like I want you dead. I've tried to help! I even offered to die with Kikyo. I offered to die for you! And you're acting like I'm the sole problem here. I want to help you, Kagome.'
'You want to help?' Kagome turned and squared her shoulders, not giving in to him no matter how hard her heart was beating. 'Can you help me kill Kikyo? Can you kill her?'
His angry facade slipped for a second, and in that second Kagome saw all she needed. His answer was clear, even if he didn't know it himself.
Inuyasha stepped back. 'At least let me come with you.'
'No.'
'You're not going alone.'
'And I'm not going with someone who is in love with the one person I am trying to kill!' Kagome finally lost her control.
She sucked in a breath, trying to bring her heart rate back down. School, or life, or her parents had never prepared her for any of this. The heartache of constantly having to push away the one you love. Being torn between what you know is right and wanting to do what you know is wrong. Kagome wanted to run into Inuyasha's arms and apologies for everything. But she couldn't. The other part of her still blamed him completely for not being able to give her up. If only he had, then none of this would be happening.
They stared each other down until Inuyasha cracked, sitting cross legged on the floor.
'Fine,' he muttered, 'but at least take Miroku. The guys an idiot, but it's better than nothing.'
She shook her head. 'Sango is going to give birth any day now. He needs to be with her.'
Inuyasha stayed silent. Kagome took his silence as an end of the topic, and focused back on what she was doing. Once her bag was packed, she turned to retrieve the bow from her desk. That's when she noticed why Inuyasha was so quiet. He had something in his hand-a photo frame.
She inched over and saw which one it was. The Kagome in the picture was smiling, eyes lit with joy and hair flowing around her body like a waterfall. Next to her stood a tall boy with brown hair, even browner eyes and a wonderful smile. He was holding Kagome's hand as he playfully pretended to push her into the koi pond they were standing beside. It was a nice day. Cherry blossoms were littering the ground, turning everything pink and white.
'I remember that day. About five months ago now,' Kagome said, smiling to herself. 'It was the most fun I had had in three years.'
'Who is he?'
'Oh, his name is Kyoya.'
Inuyasha stared at it a little longer before saying, rather harshly, 'Is he your boyfriend?'
Kagome ignored his tone. 'Was.'
He glanced up at her. 'What happened? You said this was only taken five months ago.'
She barely remembered it. After all, it hadn't been something she wanted to remember. Kagome sat on her bed while deciding whether or not to tell him the truth.
'Kyoya and I started dating about eight months ago. He asked me out on a date, saying I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.' Kagome noticed Inuyasha's eyes narrow slightly. 'We hit it off. This photo was taken by a friend of ours only a month into our relationship. I really liked him, and it helped to take my mind off of everything from the past. I thought I might actually fall in love with him.' Kagome's voice trailed off and she stared down at her hands.
'What happened?' Inuyasha prompted, not sure if he even wanted to know.
'Um, I found out that he was cheating. The friend of ours who took the photo-Hana-slept with him. Apparently he has a reputation for luring girls in, and... He just wanted one thing. And when I gave that to him, he moved on. I broke it off with him. The next day he was with a completely new girl.'
Inuyasha stayed silent. His mind processed everything she had just told him. Kagome had been cheated on. She tried to move on from him and the past, and ended up getting screwed over again. Inuyasha couldn't help but think this was his fault. And then something else caught his attention.
The silver haired demon looked at Kagome in a different way, like he didn't really know the girl sitting across from him. 'You slept with that human?'
Her face instantly slammed closed like a book. 'Not that it is any of your business. You've probably slept with heaps of girls in the past three years.'
'No. I haven't.' Inuyasha placed the picture back on the desk. 'I didn't want Kikyo after you left. For three years I've been alone.'
'Alone...' Kagome shook her head. 'No, you have Sango and Miroku and Kaede.'
'Fine, then let me put it another way. I wanted to be alone.' He sighed. 'Don't you understand?'
'Understand what?'
The silver haired demon walked over and grabbed Kagome's hand, pulling her to her feet before she had time to argue. He swiftly embraced her, letting her head rest against his chest. When she get so small? This black haired woman in his arms was so fragile, and yet warm. He closed his eyes and squeezed tighter, refusing to let go even if she fought against him.
Kagome didn't fight it though. She stood there as he rested his head on the top of her hair. A small electric shot ran through her body when he squeezed her, pulling her tighter against his warm skin. That's when she realised Inuyasha no longer wore his signature red suit. Instead he wore plain white shirt with brown trousers. A much more grown up look.
She finally tried to pull back, but he wouldn't let her. 'Inuyasha.'
'I'm sorry,' he whispered into her hair, squinting his eyes closed against the water threatening to spill out. 'It's my entire fault. Your brother being taken and you being hurt several times over. Again and again, and each time I did nothing.'
Kagome once against tried to push away with no avail. 'Inuya-.'
'I love you, Kagome.'
Her pushing stopped. The human girl stood still, embraced by the silver haired demon who she could feel shaking with tears. Kagome felt the silent sobs rock his body, and could hear his heart breaking into pieces.
Not knowing what to do, she let him hold her as he cried silently, holding back tears of her own.
Let me know what you guys think! Thought it was time for some heart to heart between our two main characters ;)