Chapter 15: Kagome's word.

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Kagome woke slowly, her head pounding with how much crying she had done, knowing it was well past noon but unable to lift her tired limbs just yet.

Sighing, she forced herself to turn over, when exactly she had fallen asleep, she wasn't sure. Still too out of it, she didn't realize the change until she tried to stretch out. Her hand coming up to hit wall, she nearly tumbled herself out of bed.

'What happened to the bed?' Cracking open her eyes they nearly budged out of their sockets upon registering her surroundings, she sat up with a start, gazing at her childhood bedroom.

"I'm... home?" Her fingers traced the old comforter, heart swelling at realizing he had brought her home after all.

"Don't get used to it" His voice startled her, turning, Kagome watched as he sipped coffee from one of their old mugs, looking out of place in his open white button up. "We're not staying long either."

Inuyasha had taken off the cufflinks and vest, staying in the gray pants, he hadn't slept so looking for something else to wear was moot.

"Why did you..." She tried to ask, her voice cracking from last night's wails.

"Thought that would be obvious." Inuyasha approached her then, she looked like a mess. Still in his expensive jacket, the thing was wrinkled and bunched up, she had rolled the sleeves for easier use unaware of the damage she had done to such a fine piece of Italian garment.

Her hair had fluffed out with her constant twisting and turning, sleep had escaped her some, noticeable by the dark circles under her eyes. But still she sat there, just as at ease with his company as their first night shared.

"No. Not really"

Rolling his eyes, he made himself as comfortable as he could on the edge of her bed. Gazing at her wide blue eyes, he realized how lost someone could become within the depth of those eyes, so much curiosity, so much trust...

"You were upset."

"Hm... I've been upset before, this is a nice treat though, is that coffee?"

Inuyasha sipped from his cup, or her cup judging from the pink cat printed on the front of the mug, "It is, there's more in your kitchen if you want some."

"Gee, made yourself at home eh?"

Kagome folded one leg underneath her, using the other leg to prop up her head, she gazed sleepily at his stuffy demeanor.

He was tense, that much she could see, but she hadn't the foggiest as to why.

"No more than you have in my home."

Nodding, Kagome gave a jaw popping yawn, letting him take his time with whatever was eating him up.

"I guess that's fair, coffee does sound good right about now."

"Breakfast sounds better."

Kagome smiled, "Well then, let's go, if I have to make breakfast then you're helping."

"Yeah, not a chance Girl."

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Inuyasha helped her to her feet when she attempted to do so herself and only crumbled back down on the bed. Once she had her footing, they made their way to her kitchen, his hand still supporting her by her elbow just in case.

Noon came and they greeted it together, moving around her small kitchen, Inuyasha found he rather liked watching her make pancakes, if it was only just for this single occasion.

By the time she had a few stacks on both plates, noon was turning to evening; they sat at her mother's western style dining table, eating their food in comfortable silence.

"You good now?" Kagome grabbed the empty plates, working around him to clean up as much as she could.

"Keh, it's enough." He had sat there, watching as she set about doing the dishes.

Such a small chore, but it was performed with such ease, she seemed happy just doing the menial task. Soon, the room filled with her soft hum. Seeing the young girl be so calm re-sparked his suspicion, no matter what way Inuyasha looked at it, he couldn't seem to place the girl.

Knowing she wasn't as innocent in the matters of his world as he had originally thought, Inuyasha prepared himself for a difficult decision.

"Kagome."

His voice filled the room with tension, ending her soft hums with a clipped note.

Kagome, figuring a conversation was awaiting, quickly dried her hands on a towel and turned to give him her full attention.

"We gotta talk about what's going to happen now..."

"Okay."

Inuyasha steeled himself, refusing to be swayed by her, or to be distracted by his wayward emotions. He met the girl with his glare, reminding himself she was more stranger, than friend.

"You lied."

"I did not lie!" Her outburst earned herself a displeased growl, not wanting the conversation to turn sour, she tried wording herself differently. "I just want to be clear, I didn't lie to you, I never have, but I did leave some stuff out."

His answer growl had her shifting where she stood in her guilt, taking the low growl for what it was, a reprimand.

"Did no one explain to you what 'lie by omission' means Woman?"

She twisted a strand of hair in front of her face, using this to distract herself from his ire.

"You know... I don't think they covered that in junior high."

Before he could issue out another warning, the girl sighed, slumping her shoulders as she deflated in front of him.

"I didn't lie or didn't mean to lie, when I said I was just looking around town that night. It was just that..."

She breathed in, preparing herself for whatever reaction he was going to have next, "Well, the night when I found you. It's true that I hadn't known what I was heading for when I found you, but..."

"But?" He pressed, his growl a steady vibration as the room filled with the scent of her nerves and rising fear.

"But I was out there looking for something... Not at first, b-but then I felt something change..."

"What changed Kagome?"

He was mad, she could feel it as if it were a living thing between them, and it confused her. She almost backed out in telling him but knew that was no longer an option.

Taking the seat across from him on the table, Kagome prepared herself to come clean.

"I don't know... the air? It felt- ominous. Different, like there was some type of dark cloud or something. I knew what I was doing, I saw the crowd thinning till no one was around, I knew something was up, but I kept going anyways.

Inuyasha I-"

Pausing, Kagome wetted her sudden dry lips, he was sitting so still. Calmly watching her from across the wooden table, but the banked anger he radiated defeated such a composed look.

"I knew something otherworldly was happening, I saw the purple haze around Naraku, I knew he was something different. That you were something different."

His near silent growl frightened her, her hands coming to hold on to the chair she sat in, as if by doing so she were a little more secure.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right here, right now?!"

"What? Why would you need to kill me?"

"Why?! Are you that dense, you lied to me woman! Going on about like you didn't know what was going on, but you knew, you knew I was a demon all along. I can't trust a damn thing you say now."

Kagome bit her lip, lowering her gaze away from his fierce glare.

"I didn't know you were a demon, didn't know there was even such a thing as demons..."

"I can't trust that! What's worse is Sesshomaru will find out about this, and that'll be the one thing he needs to call for your life, don't you get it?

It would be easier for me to kill you now, at least with me there'll be mercy."

Mulling over his words, Kagome gave him a short curt nod.

"Okay, I understand... Do what you have to do."

His growl cut off, leaving behind this awful tension in his chest, "Just like that, heh?"

She took a deep breath before smiling up at him, a specter of a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Yeah, just like that."

"You don't mean that."

"You said it yourself, if you don't kill me, someone else will. Besides-" Her eyes drifted out the kitchen window, staring at the forest that was her backyard, "I'm tired of hiding who I really am."

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He gritted his teeth, fury surfacing hard and fast; how could she just give in like that?!

Kagome blinked up at him, her big blue eyes dull with acceptance. The rage he felt was almost overwhelming, he pushed himself up on his feet with too much force.

The wood creaked in protest before the table cracked under his hands, collapsing in front of her eyes.

Kagome squeaked and jumped out of her chair, the wood splatter hitting her legs. Her surprise faded as anger quickly came to replace it; she stared at her mother's dining table, completely destroyed, her eyes narrowing in on the damage.

"What the hell!" She looked up, ready to really let him have it, but just as she did, he was there. "Inu-!"

His index finger tilted her head up to meet his gaze, barely touching her at all, but holding her immobile with his faint touch.

"Enough" his voice was loud in the small space between them without having to yell. He could feel her quickening pulse under his fingertip, could hear her rampant heart as it beat inside her chest, but the scent of her fear was absent.

"I'm going to ask you some questions now, you will not lie, understand?"

Kagome bit her lip, craning her head back to escape his touch, then with a quick tight nod she showed her compliance. Still, he did not let go, keeping her head still, by just simply pushing up on her chin.

She could feel something sharp against her neck, and could just imagine the hidden claw, razor sharp just under the surface.

"The night you saved me, you were somehow able to get past the barrier Naraku put up, tell me how."

"Barrier? I don't-" His short growl was her first warning, for once she didn't want to rally him up, swallowing past her initial reaction. Kagome tried again, "I didn't feel a barrier, I didn't feel- anything.

I'm not saying it was an accident I found you, I defiantly knew something was up. I'm not saying I knew it was you, but there was definitely some kind of force that kept trying to keep me in, or out, I wasn't able to tell.

I'm just glad I found you when I did..."

Inuyasha ignored the pull of gratitude as she spoke of finding him, now was not the time.

"So, you had nothing to do with Naraku's attack?"

Peering into his eyes, Kagome put all of her conviction into her next words, "I have nothing to do with your attack, I've never met anyone like Naraku before, and having met him now, I don't want anything to with him."

He seemed to accept this, giving a quick nod before moving on, "What about the gun, how were you able to wield Naraku's weapon?"

She tilted her head, as if his words didn't make sense to her, but he needed to push for answers; especially if she had been able to fire that dark twisted weapon, and he had not.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha, but I really don't know what you mean, that thing felt weird sure, but it worked as any gun ought to. I suppose, I've never held a gun before that night.

I just pulled the trigger, and I shot him; I did that... shot a person at point range. That was me... I probably killed him too..."

He scented her guilt and before he had a chance to think too much into it, Inuyasha snapped out.

"Don't go weeping over the dammed, you'll be crying all day." She gave a meek nod, one that didn't show much conviction, growling for her attention, Inuyasha tried once more.

"I'm serious, Bitch. If you knew Naraku, you'd know you probably did the world a big favor, don't regret saving a life. No matter how fucked up the life you saved turned out to be."

Kagome took his hand away from her chin, holding it tightly as if she could pass some of her natural warmth onto him.

"I will never regret saving you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha held his breath as she squeezed his hand, her blue eyes boring into his own, giving him direct passage to her. Quickly turning, Inuyasha took his hand away, attempting to cover himself by adjusting his concealment chain.

"Can I see it? The real you, I mean..."

"No." His answer was short and quick, confusing her as his anger only grew with time, he paced her kitchen with quick-heavy steps.

She was doing it again, enticing a new reaction from him, a warmth he hadn't been privy to before.

Inuyasha bit the inside of his cheek, everything she was saying... he wanted to believe her but- Sesshomaru's words rang back to him. "You don't see it, do you?" "what she does to you."

His growl mixed with a snarl as he turned his stride towards the girl, she flinched at the sound, but now was not the time to allow his weak blood to sway him.

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Kagome tensed when his path switched to her, he looked like a bull ready to attack and she was painted blood red. Her breath ran dry and if there had been color on her cheeks, it was gone now, as he closed in on her Kagome turned pale.

Perhaps another time he would have backed off, allowed her the room to breathe she so clearly needed, but the thought she had more to hide bit at his insides as if it were its own demon.

"The gun... do you know where Naraku's gun is?"

Kagome bit her lip, she opened her mouth to answer when he suddenly moved, taking the three steps to reach her in one fluid motion.

His hand shot out towards her before she could register the movement, his long fingers encased her throat, briefly she felt her shoulders hit the wall long before her head did.

Kagome couldn't breathe, knowing fully well it had nothing to do with the hand wrapped around her throat.

His face hovered dangerously close; she could feel the vibration from his growl even though there was still a single space between them, and the heat that poured off his body was too strong for her to concentrate on anything else.

Inuyasha squeezed her throat lightly, waiting till her eyes shot up to his, to continue. "Do not lie to me girl, you did so once, I will not tolerate a second time. Understand?"

When she did not reply he squeezed harder, enough to hear the breath hitch in the back of her throat before he let up. "Understand?"

The word rolled with his growl, Kagome only managed a meek nod, but it was deemed enough. His hand loosened slightly, making it clear he was not planning on letting go any time soon.

"Good. Now I'll ask One. More. Time-

Do you know where Naraku's gun is?"

"No, I have no idea where it is."

She willed her heart to slow down as he leaned in closer, his nose skimming the edge of her chin; down her jaw, settling itself on the crook of her neck. Kagome bit her lip as she felt him breathe in, hard, the breath he expelled giving her goosebumps.

"You know what happened to it"

His breath on her skin stole hers, his words a statement, not a question.

"...Yes."

The girl under his hands quivered, however the scent of fear was nowhere to be found on her; just the addition of honey that his nose could not seem to place.

"Did you give it to someone?"

"No. Never. That thing is evil, Inuyasha, pure evil."

"But you won't tell me what you did with it"

"No."

He lifted his face up to stare at her determined gaze, his snarl in answer was a slow rumble that dropped and built as it went out. It reminded Kagome of the guttural one might hear from a lion or wild dog, it rang in the room and in her ears, still she stood her ground.

"Let it go Inuyasha, it's gone, no one can get to it now."

Nothing he could say or do would matter in this; it was written in her bright blue eyes, the defiance that shined behind those eyes. He was off her then, across the room once more with the same dark look over his features.

"Okay... Fine. I don't care one way or another about Naraku's toys, so long as its somewhere the bastard can't get to, but Sesshomaru will be a different story. If you come clean on everything else, I think we can still manage to keep your ass alive...

Oy! Are you even listening?!"

Kagome raised a hand over her chest, feeling the thunder and crack that was her poor heart, she waved him off when he made to step closer.

"G-give a minute will ya!"

Inuyasha felt the smirk coming on as he stared at her, flushed face and shocked expression.

Humans... so easy to rile up.

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He waited, when her heart slowed its incessant pounding, Inuyasha approached her once more; strangely satisfied when she seemed wary of his presence, backing away as he stepped forward.

"Anything else, Woman?"

'Yes...'

His eyes bore into her own, and while the urge to drown herself in them was there, Kagome solidified her resolve.

"No. Nothing else."

His answering growl showed her his displeasure, the scent of lies was absent in her form but now he knew, she could toy around the truth, make it so that the scorch smell of lies was absent on her form.

"You're sure? Last chance, Ka-go-me."

Kagome gulped with the way he chewed on her name, "Nothing- right now, later, maybe..."

Inuyasha glared her down, but when her shoulders squared and she lifted her jaw in answer, he knew there would be no more out of her till she chose it. The damn kid acted as if she were the one in charge, and although the urge to make her submit was there, he'd let her get away with it... this time.

"Fine, whatever."

Kagome waited till he seemed more settled to approach him, stepping into his bubble as he had the habit of doing to her.

"What? What'd you want now?"

"Duh, it's your turn."