A/N-
Hey there!
Anyway, I don't own InuYasha. It is strictly the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The plot is mine though...
‘Thoughts’
Well...without further ado, on with the fic!
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Chapter 8
A Day’s Journey pt 2
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The day had been passing rather well since lunch, nothing too eventful had happened, up until now that is.
Tightening her grip about the tree, Kagome leaned over as far as she could looking down into the deep ravine they had happened upon. ‘There must have been a really big battle here, I can see a few skeletons down there too. Must have happened a really long time ago...’
“Kagome…here, I’ll help you across.”
Turning, Kagome saw that InuYasha was kneeling at her side, his hands ready. Apparently he wanted her to hop on, that way he could piggy back her over the ravine. She was about to do just that when Kouga gripped her arm and pulled her close to his side.
“Don’t listen to the mutt, I’ll take you across, besides…my way is faster.”
Growling low in his throat, InuYasha fought down his desire to tear Kagome away from Kouga and cut him to pieces. His inner Inu demanded that he at least get her away from Kouga and for once, InuYasha agreed with it.
Getting up, InuYasha pried Kouga’s hand off of Kagome’s arm and pushed her behind him. “Let her decide Kouga.”
His fangs bared, Kouga reached foreword and gripped the front of InuYasha’s haori, pulling him close as he snarled in his face.
“Why the hell are you being so submissive mutt?! Have you lost your backbone…or have you finally realized that I am better than you? Tell me now, because I am getting tired of you sweet talking Kagome!”
Shaking her head, Kagome glanced about trying to find another way across, as an idea hitting her Kagome let a smug smile light her face.
“I can do what I want Kouga, you have no say in the matter. So…if you would, let go of me and let’s ask Kagome what she wants to do.”
It was hard keeping himself from snapping back at Kouga like he was accustomed too, but he was determined to keep his oath to Kagome above all else, to him that was more important than some silly squabble with Kouga.
‘After all, I won’t get in her way if she wants to be with Kouga...but from how she has been acting around me, I find that unlikely...but what could that possibly mean?’
With a rough jerk, Kouga released InuYasha’s haori and glared at him in utter hate, “fine…Kagome what…”
Turning to where Kagome was supposed to be, both Kouga and InuYasha found thin air. Frantically they glanced around, worried and confused with their thoughts the same, ‘where is Kagome?!’
“Up here boys!”
Their eyes immediately zoning in on where that voice came from, Kouga and InuYasha were nearly shocked out of their minds at what they saw.
Kagome was up on one of the highest limbs of a nearby tree, waving down at them, with a smile plastered upon her face.
“What are you doing up there Kagome?!”
Moving towards the tree, InuYasha was about to leap up and get her down when Kouga shoved him out of the way.
“Get down from there now Kagome! You could get hurt if you fell from there!”
Snorting, Kagome turned away and tensed her leg muscles as she counted to three in her head. Reaching it, Kagome leapt out of the tree and up over the ravine, flying across with her arms spread wide.
“Kagome!”
Both screamed out her name, even more frantic now then they were before, Kouga ran to the edge and looked about for some leverage to help him be able to catch her.
InuYasha on the other hand, immediately leapt after her, angling himself so that he could grab her and catch hold of the other side.
But to their great surprise, Kagome actually got all the way across, landing on the other side and coming to a rolling stop. She got up and dusted off her hakamas a moment later, smirking openly, smugness apparent in her every move.
Reaching the other side as well, InuYasha pulled himself up and ran over to Kagome’s side, giving her a thorough once over.
“Are you alright Kagome…you’re not hurt are you?”
Placing her hands on her hips, Kagome stretched her back, letting her head fall backwards as she let out a small mewling noise.
Nearly drooling at that, InuYasha retracted his claws from one hand and when Kagome finished stretching he let his fingers run over the side of her cheek. He just couldn’t stop himself anymore, his inner Inu was pushing him full force to just touch her like this.
Kagome leaned into the touch, loving how it felt to have him touching her in such a gentle manner. Before anything more could happen though, InuYasha was shoved aside again by Kouga, who had a thunderous expression on his face.
“Stay away from her mutt…”
“Kouga, stop this now. We don’t have time for your petty arguments, come on InuYasha, we have to get moving again.”
Moving around Kouga, Kagome gripped the tie on the front of InuYasha’s kimono and started walking. Literally stunned, InuYasha let her drag him along, his eyes filled with curiosity and surprise. Kouga just crossed his arms and hurried to the front, still angry but he held back for Kagome, he didn’t want her mad at him.
Once Kouga was far enough ahead Kagome released InuYasha and continued walking, she seemed to be in deep thought, but InuYasha could see that she was stressed out with Kouga still around.
An idea suddenly struck him and InuYasha couldn’t believe that he hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.
“Um…Kagome,”
Turning her head, Kagome gave InuYasha a curious look, “yes InuYasha?”
Clearing his throat, InuYasha slew down and seeing this, Kagome followed suit. Kouga moved several more feet away as they continued onward, completely oblivious to the fact that InuYasha was distancing Kagome and himself.
“I wanted to ask what you were planning on doing once we reach your fathers. I mean, will he allow me to stay with you since you are going to start living with him now? I swore I would never leave your side Kagome, but if you want to live at your fathers and he doesn’t allow me to stay, I will leave so that you will be happy.”
Kagome’s eyes grew wide and she stopped walking, she seemed too stunned to notice it.
His eyes filling with sadness, InuYasha flashed Kagome a small but broken smile, “sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that just yet.” With that said, InuYasha moved away from Kagome and leaned against a tree, “Oi! Wolf! Kagome’s taking a break, don’t get too far ahead.”
Stopping, Kouga turned to see that InuYasha was right and that Kagome had stopped, she currently looked rather shocked though and this worried him. Making his way over, Kouga touched Kagome’s arm trying to get her attention but she didn’t respond, she only mumbled something unintelligible.
The fact was, she was trying to figure out what she was going to do and how she really felt about how things have turned out, it was about time she did too.
‘I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before, have I been that oblivious this whole time? InuYasha actually thought ahead for once, he has changed so much from how he used to be...it’s hard to believe that is really him and not someone else. But after everything we have been through, I can’t stand being away from him anymore and he has promised to stay by my side. I still love him...’
Making up her mind, Kagome’s eyes refocused and she looked around for InuYasha. Finding him still leaning against a nearby tree, Kagome turned to Kouga, who was still eyeing her tentatively.
“Kouga, could you go a head and find a place for us to camp for the night, I need to speak with InuYasha for a while.”
Growling low in his throat Kouga glanced over at InuYasha who was staring off into the distance, he really didn’t want to do this, but he knew that if he didn’t he’d loose points with Kagome.
“Fine…but if anything happens, call for me and I’ll be right here.”
Kagome nodded her head and slipped off her pack, handing it to Kouga, he then proceeded to awkwardly put it on. Kouga then turned and walked off in the direction he was going before, but he wasn’t happy about it one damn bit.
Waiting until Kouga had disappeared, Kagome walked over to InuYasha and saw that he seemed to not notice that she was standing right next to him.
Feeling an evil smirk cross her lips, Kagome reached up and snatched a hold of one of his ears, it tweaked in her grip and Kagome started rubbing it gently causing InuYasha to purr low in his throat.
This feeling was something new to him, sure…Kagome had rubbed his ears once before and her mother had too, but now Kagome’s touch was gentle and soft which was greatly different than the times before.
‘Why is she...oh damn, this feels great...how can she do this just by rubbing my ear, god...please don’t ever stop Kagome. I...I...lo...I love...her...Kagome...’
Realization of his own thoughts suddenly hit InuYasha as he grabbed Kagome’s wrist, effectively stopping her from continuing to rub his ear. He had to know what she wanted him to do, he’d do whatever it took, no matter what happened to him to make sure that she was protected and happy.
“Please Kagome, what have you decided to do?”
Noticing the serious and saddened look in InuYasha’s eyes, Kagome sighed looking down once before locking her eyes with InuYasha while she smiled.
“You promised me that you would always stay by my side InuYasha, as my servant. But you are not my servant InuYasha, you are my dearest companion and if you cannot stay with me when I find my father, then I will not stay with him. If you aren’t there with me…I wouldn’t feel safe and protected like I do now…”
Lifting her hand she cupped InuYasha’s cheek and stepped closer to him, their haori’s brushing against one another’s. Having Kagome this close made InuYasha feel extremely content and surprisingly his inner youkai felt the same way.
‘It’s seems that my inner Inu thinks of Kagome as I do...she really is one of a kind and yet she wants to stay with me, even at the chance of not being with her father. I don’t deserve such caring from one such as her...after all, I am a half demon and besides, she could do so much better.’
“Kagome, how can you still wish to have me stay with you after all that I have done?” Shifting so that he was facing Kagome completely, InuYasha gave her a gentle look, wanting only the truth from her.
Shaking her head at how insecure InuYasha had become, Kagome leaned foreword, shifting about so that her head was resting underneath InuYasha’s chin.
“I have already forgiven you of that InuYasha, so there is no need to worry. I just want you to stay with me, no matter what…”
Relieved by Kagome’s words and her touch, InuYasha hugged her close and felt grateful for her warmth. “Thank you Kagome.”
Chuckling, Kagome pulled back enough to where she could look him in the eye, “but enough of that, right now we need to hurry to my father, so we had best catch up to Kouga. Oh, that reminds me. Thank you for not fighting with him, it’s nice to know that at least one of you has grown up. Anyway, we need to get moving again.”
Snorting, InuYasha released Kagome from the hug and slipped his hand into hers instead. Feeling her wrap her fingers about his, InuYasha let out a barely audible purr of contentment.
Noticing that InuYasha was vibrating, Kagome gave him a measuring look, before she decided to ignore it. Turning, she started walking, feeling much better now than she did before.
After walking for several minutes, Kagome and InuYasha finally reached the camp that Kouga had set up for them.
There was a small fire going and with the dying sunlight, it gave the area a rather eerie glow. Seeing the fish that was cooking next to the fire, Kagome sighed, slightly relieved that she didn’t have to cook dinner tonight.
Moving towards the fire, Kagome looked about but she couldn’t sight Kouga anywhere. Knowing that he would probably just pop out sometime, Kagome lead them to where her pack was laid. Reaching it, Kagome released InuYasha’s hand to check the pack, making sure that everything was still in place and that nothing had been damaged.
Finding everything in order, Kagome closed her pack and moved over to where the fish was, kneeling she reached out and took up one of the fish. Finding it completely cooked through and rather tender, she grabbed another and handed it up to InuYasha, who had been standing at her side.
“When we finish this we need to get some rest, tomorrow is going to be longer than today. After all, I’ll finally get to see my father again and then I’ll have to figure how to convince him to give us a room. After that, everything should be a total cake walk.”
InuYasha halted mid bite as his eyes widened in surprise and a light blush burned his cheeks, ‘did...did she just say us? Does she want me to stay in a room with her, so that we are sleeping...together...in...in the same room? I know I wouldn’t object but...’
“So you both decided to finally show up…anything eventful happen while I was gone and don’t deny it, I can smell your scent all over Kagome.”
Walking out of the trees, Kouga walked over and glared at InuYasha, his eyes filled with hate. It seemed that Kagome had done something to make InuYasha feel better, because InuYasha was happier and ‘is that a blush I see?’
Turning her head, Kagome waved her fish in the air at Kouga, “hey, thanks for cooking this for us.”
Eating his fish quickly, InuYasha reached down and lifted up the last fish that was sitting around the fire. Turning to face Kouga, he held the fish out to him, trying to behave civilly.
Grudgingly, Kouga took the fish and ate it fast as well, he then chucked the stick over his shoulder. Walking over to a bed of leaves and foliage that he had gathered, Kouga laid down to rest, drifting off easily. He’d already had enough of dealing with InuYasha today and it was extremely tiring for him, so within a few moments, he was out like a light.
Nibbling down the rest of her dinner, Kagome watched InuYasha walk over to a tree and sit down, leaning back against the branches as he watched their surroundings closely.
Finishing her fish, Kagome dusted off her Hakamas and moved over to InuYasha, coming to a standing stop before him. He looked up at her curiously, wondering what she wanted from him.
But she really surprised the hell out of him when she moved to where she was practically laying in his lap. Not knowing what to do, InuYasha did what came naturally, which was to wrap his arms about her and leap up into the tree.
Landing upon a steady limb, InuYasha proceeded to lay back and watched with fascination as Kagome maneuvered herself between his legs, that way she could lay against his chest with her head rested upon his shoulder for comfort.
Burrowing in close, Kagome relaxed, taking in InuYasha’s scent and enjoying every breath that she took now that she was this close to him.
“Good night InuYasha.”
Lifting a hand, InuYasha gently brushed Kagome’s hair out of her face and smiled down at her, “good night Kagome.”
As she drifted off to sleep, InuYasha remained awake for a few minutes longer, unable to stop himself from studying Kagome’s rather beautiful and gentle features.
When he too started to doze, one thought drifted through his mind and a rumbling purr rose in his chest as he thought it, ‘at least for now, you’re mine Kagome, if only...’
