Koga and Inuyasha were both demons. Well, technically Inuyasha was a half-demon, not that it mattered to Kagome.
Koga with his piercing sky-blue eyes and approachable smile was a full-blooded wolf demon. He'd made his intentions clear when he fiercely declared his love for her on numerous occasions. Kagome had lost count of how many times he'd thrown himself into the crossfire to protect her. He looked at Kagome with so much affection and confidence. She knew how he felt.
Inuyasha, with his alluring warm amber eyes, and appealing lopsided boyish grin, was the son of a powerful inu daiyōkai father and a human mother. He too had protected Kagome, many more times than Koga, but he wasn't exactly forthcoming about his feelings. A difficult childhood as an hanyou, who didn't quite belong on either side, had ensured that. Not to mention, he was still stuck on his first love, Kikyo.
Kagome rolled off of her comfortable bed and began pacing the floor of her bedroom. Her heart ached at the thought of hurting either of them. She cared for both of them, and wasn't trying to complicate things, but it was becoming more difficult to ignore how nice it felt when Koga pursued her. She felt inexplicably drawn to and connected with Inuyasha, but was that enough when he always kept her at arms length? Is there even a choice? She pondered, eyes flicking out to her open window. Inuyasha doesn't really want me. Not when he still has a chance with her.
Kagome stopped pacing and resigned herself to packing a few more things into her already overflowing yellow backpack. She let out an exasperated sigh when her Geometry textbook wouldn't fit. I'm never going to pass high school, she groaned, setting it aside. Kagome was grateful that it was just a short walk from her bedroom to the shrine that housed the Bone-Eater's well. It was the gateway that allowed her to travel back in time to the Feudal Area.
She made her way down the steps leading to the well and hopped in. Inuyasha was already waiting for her on the other side, his clawed fingers tapping impatiently along the well's wooden edge. He didn't waste time, he didn't even bother to chew her out for being late. He simply crouched down for her mount onto his back.
Kagome shouldered her backpack and climbed into position. She held onto his shoulders firmly, as his hands wrapped under her thighs and hoisted her up, securing her. In an instant, they were off. The wind whipping her long hair back from her face. She squinted against the sun shining into her eyes, and breathed in the earthy scent of the grassy fields that surrounded Kaede's village. It would be a short trek with Inuyasha carrying her.
Just as they approached the outskirts of the village, Inuyasha stopped abruptly, and released Kagome's legs. She slid down from her position on his back, jarred from the sudden stop. She'd just begun to circle around him, to see why he'd stopped, when the familiar pulse of a nearby Shikon Jewel fragment thrummed through her. Inuyasha extended an arm out protectively in front of her, effectively blocking her path.
He crouched in front of her in a defensive position, his ears twitching in anticipation. Koga stood beaming confidently in front of him, hands resting on his hips.
"Cool it, dog breath. I'm not going to hurt her." He rolled his eyes, "Do ya mind?" His striking eyes softened has he turned to face the young woman.
"Feh. Whatever." Inuyasha scoffed, leaping into a nearby tree. Kagome cast a sideways glance at the hanyou as he made himself comfortable in the tree, and contemplated whether it was protectiveness or possessiveness that kept him so near.
Koga cleared his throat. "Kagome?"
"Uh, yeah Koga?" She replied, tucking a stray inky strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not sure how you do this in your era." He hesitated, raking his bangs back with one hand. Kagome's eyebrow arched in surprise, she'd never seen Koga nervous.
He continued, speaking quickly and low. "I would like to court you."
"Oh, you mean like a date?" She blushed deeply, fiddling with her skirt. Koga may have been declaring his love for her for awhile, but him asking so formally caught her off guard.
"Is that a custom in your time?" He asked curiously, "I have heard of this strange fruit from travelers but I'm not sure if I can retrieve it in time."
"Oh, no." She chuckled, "A date is when you go out with someone you like. You usually have a meal, or do an activity together." Kagome thought of the classic dinner-and-a-movie type of dates that were common in her time, and was curious what courting entailed in the Feudal Era.
"Oh." He blushed slightly, "So, would you like to go on this date?" He pronounced date slowly.
Now, Kagome was hesitating. Snapshots of both Inuyasha and Koga's heroics and antics flooded the young Miko's mind. Inuyasha still loves Kikyo. Maybe if I give Koga a chance it could work out. We could be happy. Kagome licked her lips, as she mulled over his offer. And if it doesn't work out: Koga's attractive and loving, he'll surely find someone that makes him happy.
"Yes." She replied, looking up to fully meet his gaze.
Kagome barely registered the thud of Inuyasha hitting the ground as he fell off the nearby branch he'd been perched on.
A delighted smile crossed Koga's tanned face as he gathered her hands into his larger ones. She returned his smile, basking in his excitement. It left her feeling warm and cared for.
"I have some things I need to prepare first." Koga placed a palm on her cheek, "I'll return here at the same time tomorrow to retrieve you for our date." Kagome barely had time to nod before he was gone in a whirlwind.
"Really, Inuyasha?!" Kagome stormed off in front of him. "You just had to interrupt Koga and I's date."
"We have to gather the Jewel shards!" He shot back defensively.
"Miroku, will you please purify him?" Kagome muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Kagome." Miroku wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders, "I don't think we need to resort to such drastic measures." His arm slid down, hand resting on her lower back. Kagome was too fired up to notice. The lecherous monks cursed hand crept lower. Sango gave him a fiery look and Miroku raised both hands in mock surrender and took a step back.
Kagome exhaled sharply. "Forget it. I need to cool off." Her pace quickened in an attempt to create a greater distance between herself and the hanyou. But Inuyasha wasn't having it.
He followed behind her, arms crossed in frustration.
Sango and Miroku exchanged knowing glances and headed back towards Kaede's village, knowing one of the pairs signature quarrels was about to start, and not wanting to be a part of it. They waved farewell but neither Kagome nor Inuyasha payed much attention to them. Although the bag was much lighter than it had been when she'd first arrived, Kagome was still slowed down considerably by the heavy load, and was out of breath by the time the Bone Eater's well came into view.
That jealous Inuyasha. She clenched her fingers around her backpacks straps and gritted her teeth.
If that mangy wolf would keep his hands off what's mine this wouldn't be happening. His ears flattened against his scalp, his demonic half flaring up to meet his anger. Mate with the women. Make her yours. He shook his head violently, "No."
"What?" Kagome snapped, turning around as she stood at the edge of the well, ready to throw her bag in.
Inuyasha's cheeks darkened, he hadn't really meant to speak out loud. "I don't want you to go Kagome."
"We'll get the Jewel shards tomorrow." She promised, her tone softening at his plea. "I need to study for a test today anyways. Okay?"
"I'm so sick of you always having to run off for a damn test!" Inuyasha exploded, "I need you!"
Kagome's eyes widened at Inuyasha's outburst, but he quickly closed the distance between them, before she could formulate a response. The weight of his words charging the air around them. Kagome gasped as Inuyasha's right hand palmed the nape of her neck, fingers weaving through her dark hair.
The sound nearly undid him.
He pulled gently, forcing her to look up and face him. His dilated pupils nearly consuming the entirety of his golden irises as he studied Kagome's features. The thumb on his free hand tracing along her bottom lip as she squirmed under his attentive gaze. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose. Kagome's head spun, pupils blown from desire, unable to move.
"You deserve so much better than me." He spoke hoarsely, his body taut. Kagome didn't dare blink.
A moment later his eyes opened to half-mast, whatever he found swirling in her chocolate orbs emboldened him. He let out a ragged breath, claws skimming her skin as he moved to cup her face in his hands. Kagome shivered under his touch, heart thundering in her chest.
"I'm entirely too selfish." He murmured against her lips, closing the remaining space between them. At first he was gentle, wary, but that cautiousness quickly gave way to something needy. Something hungry.
Kagome sighed, eyes closing, as their kiss deepened. Inuyasha's fangs playfully pulling at her bottom lip. Her arms looping around his neck to pull him closer, a low moan escaping her lips, as their tongues explored. A low growl reverberated in his chest in response.
The vibrations grounded Kagome, abruptly pulling her back to her senses. She pulled back, breathless as they parted. The gravity of the situation settling over her. I can't want this.
Alarmed she turned to jump into the well instead of having to face it, to face him. Inuyasha was faster. He grabbed her waist and pulled her back, spinning her towards him simultaneously. She crashed against his hard chest, struggling to regain some semblance of composure, as he held her. They stood in a silent embrace as she gathered enough courage to slowly look up to meet the hanyou's gaze. But Inuyasha wasn't looking down at her.
The sun was now beginning to set. The warm colors splashed across their faces. Inuyasha's left ear twitched and Kagome could sense something coming as well. The familiar whine of soul collectors opened a pit in her stomach. Her body stiffened, and her breath caught in her throat, but Inuyasha was too focused on trying to disregard Kikyo's scent to notice the subtle change in Kagome. He cocked his head to the side and involuntarily took a half step towards the rustle; eyeing Kagome carefully. "Go to her." Kagome told him evenly, other than her trembling fists, she betrayed no emotion.
"Kagome." He replied softly, holding onto her forearms lightly.
"She's coming this way, Inuyasha." Kagome murmured, "I don't want to be here when you two meet up."
"But Kagome, I don't want you to go." Inuyasha looked like a kicked puppy, but Kagome could see that as Kikyo drew nearer, her leash around Inuyasha's heart grew tighter in response.
Kagome shouldered her heavy bag, steeling her resolve. "I'm leaving."
"No, you're not." He countered, jaw clenching. His hands sliding down to meet hers.
Kagome took a deep breath, wanting to maintain her composure. Kikyo stood a short distance away now, standing partially obscured by shrubbery amongst the tree line. Inuyasha didn't move.
"Inuyasha," Kagome breathed in sharply, pulling her hands back towards her chest. "Sit boy." The spiritual power of the beads of subjugation around Inuyasha's neck activated, forcing him to the ground.
Taking advantage of the precious seconds the beads granted her, Kagome hurled her bag into the well, and followed without looking back. The Bone Eater's well promptly returned her to her present day Tokyo. She crouched on the dirt floor surrounding the well and stared down into it's depth, hoping beyond reason that Inuyasha would follow her. A salty wet tear slid down her cheek, followed by another, and another. She choked back a sob, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands.
She waited in front of the well for nearly an hour, muscles tight from crouching next to it, before she was ready to head inside. Deflated, she stood up and dusted off her skirt with one hand while grabbing her backpack with the other. I'm doing the right thing. She assured herself, plastering a smile on her face. It's just too complicated.
"Hey Kagome." Souta, Kagome's younger brother, called out from the doorway, trailing behind the family housecat. "You're back."
"Hey Souta." Kagome chirped, slinging her back pack over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs to head towards the house. "What's for supper? I'm starving."