Of course, the update is late as usual... sorry!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA (BELONGS TO RUMIKO TAKAHASHI)
I ALSO LAY NO CLAIM TO BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (BELONGS TO THE DISNEY CORPORATION)
Chapter Seven: In the Wake of Nightmares
Kagome woke up the next morning to an empty bed. Her hand caressed the spot where InuYasha had lay the night before. The spot was still warm. He must have gone to talk to Shippou...
Kagome sat up, stretching her sore muscles. Almost choking to death on a curse has side effects, she thought to herself as she massaged her aching throat. She rose from InuYasha's bed, heading back to her own room so she could make herself decent. She made quick work of dressing herself before heading down to the dining room. The door creaked open as she approached it and Kaede stepped forward to greet her with a kind smile.
"Oh, child, there you are," Kaede said, ushering Kagome through the door and into a chair. "Master's orders; eat up." There was a bowl full of steaming porridge in front of her.
Kagome picked up her spoon and took a mouthfull of the delicious and soothing food. She chewed at it before swallowing, allowing the warmth to seep into her sore throat muscles. She sighed in satisfaction. "Where is InuYasha?"
She watched as Kaede poured tea into an empty teacup. "The master is... attending to some affairs of which the nature he wishes to be kept private."
Kagome nodded, continuing to savor her porridge. She chose not to think of the way Kaede worded that statement.
After finishing her bowl and cup, she insisted on washing her dishes. Much to Kaede's discontent. She made a slow, steady path towards the library. Maybe he'll be there. Kagome's heart pounded at the prospect of seeing his face.
She opened the doors with caution, stepping in and peering around the large expanse of the room. Her heart sunk in disappointment. She grabbed a random book off a nearby shelf and plopped onto the couch.
Kagome sighed and placed the book on the couch after she read the same sentence almost twenty times over. She rubbed at her temples.
"Kagome the book worm, getting a headache from reading? I never thought I'd see the day."
Kagome turned at the sudden voice. "Sango." Her friend wrapped her arms her.
"I heard about what happened. Are you okay?" Sango pulled back, holding her at arm's length, brows drawn together in worry.
"I'm fine, promise." Kagome gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Where's InuYasha?"
Sango frowned. "He's off being an idiot."
"How do you mean?"
Sango let out a breathy sigh. "He's ordered us all to keep his location from you."
Is he planning some kind of surprise? Kagome felt her face flush at the thought.
"Kagome, can you not think of anyone who would want to threaten your life like this?"
Sango's voice bulled Kagome out of her thoughts. She shook her head. "No, I can't think of anyone. I don't even know anyone with knowledge of such strong magic." She smiled at her friend. "I promise, I'll be fine."
"How can you make such promises when you don't even know who it is that is attacking you?" The older woman's eyes displayed her fear.
Kagome felt her heart tighten in her chest. "Oh, Sango." She wrapped her arms around Sango's shoulders, patting her back.
"You're my best friend." She could hear the tears in Sango's voice. "Not to mention InuYasha. He may be a stuborn ass, but we can all see the way he looks at you... Losing you would destroy him."
an hour later
Kagome found herself wandering through the castle once again, determined, this time, to find InuYasha. She'd already searched his bedroom and another room which a servant had claimed to be his study along with the entirety of the first floor. Where could he possibly be? She tiptoed out the grand doorway and descended the stairs that led into the courtyard and gardens.
The snow was starting to melt in the wake of spring: small yellow flowers peeking through the white blanket. It crunched under her shoes as she made her way through the gardens. She reached the stream where they had eaten together not to long ago. Her finger tips ghosted along the surface of the bench they'd sat on.
InuYasha, where are you?
She left the gardens, making her way towards the stable. When she arrived, the doors were already propped open. Her heart leaped in anticipation.InuYasha!
She rounded the corner into the stables. She was greeted by a young man with gentle brown eyes. He turned at the sound of her approach.
"Oh, hello there," he said, smiling a kind smile at her. "You must be Lady Kagome. I've heard you were beautiful, but the rumors truly do you no justice." He returned to brushing Buuyo.
Kagome drew herself up next to the young man, brushing a soothing hand over Buuyo's muzzle. "Well, I must admit I feel I'm at a disadvantage: you know my name and I don't know yours." She offered a friendly smile.
A faint red blush dusted his freckled face. "Oh, my apologies, my lady." He bowed to her quickly. "My name is Hojo. I'm in charge of the stables now." He rose, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, only to jump in surprise when he realized he was brushing his own neck with the coarse bristles of the horse brush.
Kagome laughed, hiding her mouth behind a gloved hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Hojo." She held out a hand to him, remembering the traditional western greeting.
His entire face lit up before taking her outstretched hand in both of his and bringing it up to his face. He placed a light kiss on her gloved knuckles. Kagome felt her own cheeks heat up. He's such a gentleman... unlike a certain lord I know who doesn't tell me where he's going-
"What do you think you're doing?"
Kagome turned at the voice, recognizing it in an instant. "InuYasha! I've been looking for you everywhere-." Her smile faded when she took in his expression: he looked beyond angry.
Kagome felt Hojo almost fling her hand out of his grasp. "I-I'll just-" he stumbled over his feet as he set the brush down on the stool next to Buuyo. "Be going... Bye!" He bolted out of the stables.
Kagome watched his retreating form, confused, before turning back to InuYasha. "I asked you a question."
What did I do this time? "I was having a conversation, but you've ruined that." Kagome guided Buuyo back into his stall and closed the gate. When she turned around InuYasha was right in front of her, glaring down at her. "InuYasha?"
There was a dangerous glint in his golden eyes that half scared her and half ignited a pleasant warmth in her stomach. She shuffled backwards, trying to distance herself from his intensity. He matched her movements until her back hit the side wall of the stables. He leaned his hands against the wall, one on either side of her head, trapping her. She took a moment to appreciate just how much taller he was than her, her eyes in line with his collar. She pictured herself undoing the button there and kissing his neck. She shook her head and refocused her attention to his eyes, looking up at him through her lashes.
Something in him seemed to snap as his lips descended upon hers in a bruising kiss. A gasp rose in her throat and her back arched off the wall, her eyes shutting tight. His lips were cold from the chilly weather and roughly chapped. She tilted her head back, welcoming his ministrations. His tongue ran along her bottom lip, its hot temperature in stark contrast to his lips. This time she was prepared, parting her lips. He growled in approval, dipping his tongue into her mouth and running its velvety smooth surface over hers. She gave a small moan, the warmth in her belly growing hotter. Her heart fluttered, her arms coming up to grab the front of his shirt. He growled again, low in his throat and gripped her wrists, pinning them to the wall above her head. Kagome winced at the force with which he held her there.
She pulled away, a loud and embarrassing sucking noise emitting from their mouths. She rested her head back against the wall. "InuYasha?" she managed to say between gasps for air. He narrowed his eyes before taking another step and sandwiching her body against the wall. He wasted no time in covering her mouth with his in hot open-mouthed kisses. Kagome strained onto her tiptoes, groaning at the friction she created. She fought to keep up with his rhythm. His hands shifted over her wrists, locking them both in one. The other freed itself to drag down her forearm in a gentle caress.
Kagome sighed into his mouth.
His fingers traveled lower, making a slow path from her elbow down to the junction of her shoulder. Kagome's heart beat faster. She willed his hand to keep moving. To continue the sweet torture he was putting her over-sensetized skin through. She found it amazing that he could affect her skin so even through the thick fabric of her dress. His fingers finally brushed past her shoulder and onto her ribcage. They ghosted dangerously close to her breast, before passing down to her waist. She groaned in disappointment, pressing her chest into his.
Gods, the friction.
She panted in between kisses. "Inu-InuYasha-" Her stomach burned, a full force fire. His hand trailed back up her side, his thumb brushing against the tight swell of her breast. Kagome couldn't hold back the moan that had built up in the back of her throat. She was too aroused to even feel embarrassed anymore. Just touch me more.
InuYasha was the one to pull away this time, trailing his tongue down the length of her throat. He stopped at the crook of her neck, sucking lightly. She tilted her head to the side, giving him more access. He nibbled on the skin there. She whined, flexing her arms against his hold. He released her wrists, purring into her skin. She tangled one hand in his hair, the other draping over his shoulder, nails digging into his back. He kissed back up her neck, licking her bottom lip before nipping it. Kagome's knees wobbled beneath her, forcing her back onto flat feet. She heard him groan long and low. That was when she noticed the hot, hard bulge pressing into her abdomen.
They both parted, resting foreheads against each other. Panting. Kagome's eyes fluttered open. Her lips felt swollen and the fire in her stomach raged. Why is he still glaring at me?
She took in a deep gulp of air. "InuYasha, why are you looking at me like that?" The hand she had in his hair came down to stroke his cheek.
"Because you're mine and you let someone else put their hands on you."
Kagome recoiled. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
"You let that stable boy touch you."
Kagome scoffed. "InuYasha, I was being cordial. I believe you must at least recall what manners are."She smiled at him.
He's still glaring.
"This is all besides the point, really. If you hadn't run off to wherever you ran off to, I wouldn't have had to come here in the first place. I've only been looking for you all day, you know."
"Like I need to report my every move to you."
Kagome's eyes widened. "What is wrong with you? I was legitimately expressing my concern for you after I almost died last night. Gods forbid I be worried that something happened to you."
InuYasha gave a loud feh and stepped away from her, arms dropping to his side. "Like I need some human wench to worry about my safety when she can't even escape some dumb curse."
Kagome felt tears pricking her eyes.
"Well, not without my help of course."
Kagome didn't realize what was happening until after her hand connected with his cheek. "Why did I have to fall in love with a jerk like you?"
His eyes widened at her words. "Kagome-"
"You're such an IDIOT!" she yelled, shoving past him, wiping tears from her cheeks.
~InuYasha~
InuYasha clutched his burning cheek as he watched her disappear up the steps and into the castle. When the giant doors closed behind her, he turned and punched the wall. Shit. He pulled his hand through the whole his fist had created. He turned on the spot and flopped back against the wall, sliding down to sit amongst the hay. He held his head in his hands as he bit back tears and curses.
This was literally going to kill him, but he felt he had no other choice.
I don't deserve your love...