Chapter 38
Ugh.
After being in this time for some months now, she'd had hoped she would've gotten much fitter than her city-dwelling self.
The inhalation was much too short before she had to pant out again, finding it hard to catch her breath.
It was a hella steep climb.
Kagome huffed out a stream of air, blowing her sweaty bangs up and out of her eyes. Craning her head to peer up the slope, she spied the blob of red perched high up on the crag.
She sent a somewhat resentful glare his way. It was very hard not to be jealous of Inuyasha's superhuman abilities at times like these. He could run a few marathons back to back and still look as fresh as if he just stepped out of the shower (metaphorically speaking). The smug grin on his handsome face unfazed by fatigue, not a strand of silver hair out of place— it made her feel things.
Muttering, Kagome put her head down and stepped up the next rock, hand pushing slightly down on her left quad to help it up the extra tall step.
To be fair, Inuyasha had offered multiple times to continue up the mountain carrying her on his back, but she'd been the one to refuse.
See, before her life was kiboshed by falling down the well, Kagome had just joined a new extracurricular group. The members' welcome took the form of a weekend trip to Nikko where she did her first day hike ever.
Suffice to say, Kagome was hooked on the thrill of the first view off the summit after working her ass off to get up there.
Currently, she was at the huffing and puffing part, not so much the thrill part.
Inuyasha was confused as to why she was insisting on walking up herself but after she explained about wanting to feel like she worked for something good, he seemed to understand.
He was adamant on carting all their stuff though. The amusing sight of the gruff hanyou with a patterned carry-sack tied around his shoulders made her giggle.
As she mused, said hanyou was bounding back down the hill towards her.
"Kagome! We're almost there."
"You've been saying that this entire time." She grumbled back at him as she scrambled up the latest switchback.
At least it wasn't overgrown and woodcutters or some such folk came by enough to leave a trace of a foot path.
Looking up from her intense concentration on the loose gravel in front of her, she jumped in surprise, letting out an embarrassing squeak. Inuyasha had, as usual, soundlessly creeped up on her such that she'd stared right into his bright golden eyes less than an arm's length from the tip of her own nose.
He cackled at her reaction, the tips of his fangs peeking out from behind his lips.
Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, wanting to appear at least somewhat peeved. Truthfully, she couldn't find anything in her to begrudge the genuine, cheeky grin on his face.
Compared to the set of his shoulders and the subdued way he carried himself in Jinenji's village, Inuyasha was noticeably lighter now.
No wonder, having to constantly be ready to fend off all that hostility. She much preferred him like this—carefree and a bit mischievous.
"C'mon Kagome." He goaded. "Let's book it up this last bit. Best way to do it!"
Affected by his enthusiasm, she placed her hand on his outstretched one. Immediately, his fingers clasped tightly around her hand and he whirled around, towing her closed behind.
Kagome let out a breathless laugh. "Whoa! Don't yank my arm out."
He grinned at her again sideways then proceed to indeed, book it up the rest of the rocky crag.
She couldn't do anything but to just move her feet, laughing and trying to catch her breath in between. Trusting his steps, Kagome clambered up the slope, hand in hand with the inu-hanyou.
Abruptly, the incline levelled off and they hurtled into a grove of short trees. They ran ahead, the leaf litter a welcome softness under her sore feet.
Kagome couldn't help but giggle a little at the sight of the lumpy carry-sack bouncing precariously around his shoulder with each of his wide strides. She was lagging just a touch behind him, and so his arm was stretched back to continue to grasp her hand tightly.
They'd obviously made it past the hardest part of the climb but still he didn't let go of her. Kagome found that she didn't hate it. Rather opposite of that. His hand was rough with callouses but she found the warmth of it and the lightest prick of the tips of his claws surprisingly [comforting, secure].
Her cheeks heated up. Kagome hadn't held a boy's hand for so long before.
Before she had much more time to dwell on this, they broke through the leafy cover and suddenly the entirety of their surroundings opened up to her.
They were in what looked like a flat plain, ringed by short trees and the snow covered peaks of the far mountain range towered in the background.
She gasped.
The wide expanse was covered by varied heights of greenery, of which were blooming in shades of colour.
How does this exist on top of what she thought was also a mountain?
"Oh wow." She exhaled breathily, making eye contact with Inuyasha who had come to a stop waist-deep in the meadow plants. "It's beautiful!"
"Keh." He rubbed the tip of his nose with the back his hand. "Thought ya'd like it."
"Thanks for bringing me here, Inuyasha." She told him earnestly. So much so that he averted his eyes and mumbled some sort of reply.
They fell silent while she admired the amazing view before her. She waded around the flowers dragging the hanyou along, zigzagging her way to investigate a tiny stream weaving through the plain.
Neither brought attention to the fact that they were still holding hands.
The evening fell in hues of pink and soft purple, the fading sunlight colouring the sparse wisps of clouds a fiery orange.
Kagome having noticed how dry the landscape they were in actually, dissuaded her companion from lighting a fire.
The summer nights were warm enough for her, she figured, and Inuyasha definitely didn't need the extra heat.
They made camp at the edge of the meadow under one especially wide canopy, a feat given how shrubby the trees were at this altitude.
Kagome wrapped her arms around her knees and pillowed her cheek on them, letting her gaze settle on Inuyasha.
"Ne, Inuyasha," At the sound of her voice, his glowing eyes met hers in inquiry. "How do you know about all these places?"
He was silent for a while.
"I've had a long time to wander around." He supplied finally.
There was so much to unpack behind that simple reply, but Kagome chose not to prod any deeper. The atmosphere between them was peaceful tonight. Plus, from what she'd witnessed so far with regard to how he was treated, she could easily hazard a guess.
"Well, if this human's not too much trouble, bring me along on your some of your wanderings from now on." She responded softly instead. "Especially if it's this beautiful."
"Keh." There was a minute curl to the corner of his lips. "If you work on that damn stamina of yours."
Kagome jabbed his ribs with her elbow.
Hmph. Here she was trying to be nice!
A breeze stirred, stirring the grasses on the plain. The interplay of shadows in the fading light made it look like waves in the sea to her inferior human eyes.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome spied Inuyasha turning to look at her suspiciously. Then, a slight movement and rustle before weighted folds of fabric settled reassuringly over her shoulders. His woodsy scent instantly surrounded her and Kagome is startled by the intimacy.
Leaning back a little, Inuyasha scrutinized her, all the while his nose twitched just the faintest little bit. She wasn't even sure he noticed it himself. Then he leaned forward and deftly knotted both sleeves of his haori together, effectively tying her like a bundle of goods.
"Inuyasha, I can't move my arms!"
"So?" He hedged back. "Why d'ya need to move them that much for?"
Well, that much was true.
She was feeling drowsy and was thinking of going to sleep soon.
This way, surrounded by the heavy warmth of Inuyasha's overcoat, it was considerably comfortable.
"Thanks, Inuyasha." Then after a pause, she added. "I guess we should starting heading back to the village tomorrow, huh?"
They'd spent quite some time away and Kagome was feeling a tiny bit guilty, especially if someone happened to need the herbs they were sent to fetch.
Inuyasha had mentioned this alpine meadow they were at was on the side of the mountain range closest to Kikyou's village. So, provided that she ride on his back tomorrow, it won't be long till they make it back.
"You know," She spoke up again after another lapse of silence. "I really like traveling to new places with you, Inuyasha."
She felt the hanyou twitch the slightest beside her.
Then came a muffled grunt in agreement.
"Same."
She could barely make out what he muttered, but it wasn't her imagination.
Kagome was sure of it.
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A/N: Completely uneventful bit of fluff to end off this arc of IFWA. I'm excited for what's to come!
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October 6-20th.
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