InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ What A Girl Needs ❯ What A Guy Thinks ( Chapter 2 )

Originally posted April 19, 2005. Minor typos fixed September 10, 2005.

 

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns everything and I humbly bow to her genius.

 

 

What a Girl Needs

 

by Souta's Sister

 

Chapter 2 -- What a Guy Thinks

 

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

 

Inuyasha was awake and he had been for a while. When he first woke, he had been a little disoriented and confused by his lack of senses. He was about to curse his human form and sit up when he heard Kagome's voice…what she said. He'd been too shocked and hurt to do anything more than turn from her, catching his breath, almost choking on it. After that, he could do nothing but lie there and listen as his dreams died with each word that came from her mouth.

 

Kagome wanted a lover and it wasn't him. The thought was killing him. He had hoped, dreamed of being with Kagome, having her by his side for eternity. He wanted to take her as his mate when all this was over if the fates permitted. He had thought she understood and that she might want it too….but now he knew she didn't think of him like that. Shit! She had even grouped him in the same `hugging' category as her grandfather and her brother! How much more removed from the category of `lover' could that be? Fuck!

 

She was still beside him as their friends settled for the night. He wanted to scream at her, shake her, anything to make her take it back, make her tell him she didn't mean any of what she said. But he was afraid. He didn't want to push her away even more. He had suspected for a couple of months now that she was pulling away from him in some way, but he didn't know exactly why. It had only been a vague uneasiness he felt, nothing obvious in her behavior, just a feeling he had.

 

What had he done? Why did she feel she was alone? Why must she go to another? And she didn't think it would matter to him if she did fuck someone else? Didn't she know that he wanted her? That he needed her? Didn't she realize that he loved her? Didn't she see how fucking hard it was to hold himself back? That every second he was near her he had to restrain himself from taking her? Gods, she should be thankful for his rigid control, especially during this past year as her body came into full bloom and she matured into a stunningly beautiful woman. If not for his iron self-control, he would have claimed her months ago. Damn it! If he had known she was taking the `birth control' treatments, he would have had her years ago!

 

Inuyasha mentally sighed. He didn't understand. He stayed with her and protected her. He even let her go to her time for a day or two occasionally, no matter how much it hurt him to be separated from her. Why would she do this to him?

 

He was hurt and confused. Anger would set in soon, he knew, but right now he was too shocked to know what to do. So he lay there, pretending to sleep, and took comfort in her presence next to him even though she was the one who was causing him so much pain. When the opportunity arose, he gripped her hand, refusing to let it go…refusing to let her go. He cursed his human emotions and tried to calm his harsh breathing as another tear squeezed past his closed eyelids and his heart shredded within his chest….

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Dawn was finally approaching. Inuyasha could hear Kagome's even breathing and feel her weight across his chest. She smelled so good. He loved her scent. He would never let another male's scent mingle with it! He would never let another male touch her!

 

He took a deep breath to calm himself. He had spent all night thinking about what she told Sango…torturing himself with graphic images of Kagome and Kouga running through his head. Even though she had denied wanting the wolf, the thought of them together was killing him. He wanted to be the one she needed, the one to make her feel alive, to let her know she was not alone. He wanted to hold her tight and never let her go. Could she really not know this?

 

He could feel his strength returning to his body and his half-youkai blood rising again with the morning sun. He would be able to control his emotions better now that he was no longer a weak human. He remained still and slowly opened his eyes to see Kagome's beautiful face, relaxed in sleep, where she rested across his chest.

 

His thoughts continued to go round and round in his head, repeating themselves over and over. They went back again to what she said last night, and the question of `why?' would not let him rest as he gazed at her serene countenance.

 

He wanted to feel her smooth skin but held himself back. He'd always been careful not to touch her unnecessarily because, at first, he did not think she would welcome the touch of a half-youkai, and later, because he felt an obligation to put Kikyou to rest before he could come to Kagome with his whole heart and allow himself to find happiness, not to mention the fact that touching Kagome too much was dangerous to his self-control.

 

He'd been very sure to keep his distance for a while now. However, he often sat quite near her and, of course, he held her during a dangerous situation, and perhaps even during situations that were only slightly dangerous, because he needed to protect her.

 

Protecting her extended to deliberately destroying her two-wheeled iron contraptions -- that was a secret he would take with him to the grave -- because carrying her was much safer, in his opinion, than allowing her to ride that machine. Plus, it allowed him to imprint his scent on her, which created yet another protective layer around her.

 

Still, he tried not to initiate any touching outside of fighting and traveling responsibilities most of the time even though it took a conscious effort on his part. His youkai side had urged him to take her for the last three years and his human side loved her more each day. It had been getting steadily harder as time passed to resist his urges toward Kagome, and during the last year he had to willfully restrain himself around her almost constantly. Couldn't she see how controlled he forced himself to be when near her these past months? Didn't she understand how hard it was for him?

 

He took a deep breath and allowed her scent to calm him even as it stirred him…enticed him to touch her.

 

He had realized some time ago that Kagome had always been comfortable with his touch and she often touched him on the arm or back, giving and seeking comfort or just to show affection. But…as he thought about it, he realized that she did that with everyone. It was just her way and it must have been wishful thinking on his part to think that her touch meant more for him.

 

He had thought, had hoped, that she might welcome his touch as a mate when their quest was over and Kikyou was put to rest, but now, after what he'd heard, he realized that she had only accepted him as a close friend.

 

He still could not accept it, could not grasp the concept…she was seeking a mate and it wasn't him. The pain in his heart was a physical thing. How could he bear her touching another man? Not touching him? He cursed himself for holding back with her in the past. Had he been too restrained with her? Didn't she know he loved her?

 

He carefully removed his hand from hers and brushed back the hair from her forehead, softly caressing her brow. Right now, Kagome's warm skin felt so wonderful to him…like the finest delicate silk. He could not stop his fingers from lingering.

 

The thought of another man touching her made him ill. And it hurt even more that she wanted to hide it from him, but he would have known even if he didn't hear her discussing it. Bathing did not take away a lover's scent whatever she thought. Sweaty palms left their scent. Body oils seeped into the skin. He should know since he spent hours deliberately allowing the sweat from his own hands to seep into the bare skin of her inner thighs as he carried her on his back. He cultivated his scent upon her skin as a warning to other youkai…as an invisible brand proclaiming that she was his to protect…his to mate.

 

Even Shippou recognized his claim when they first met him nearly four years ago, and at that time, Inuyasha had barely had the opportunity to get his hands on her body, let alone handle her inner thighs. Still, Shippou had detected Inuyasha's scent on Kagome immediately and had called her Inuyasha's `woman'.

 

And Kouga knew too. The fucking wolf recognized the scent claim, and whether Kagome realized it or not, having Inuyasha's scent so pervasively mixed with her own, even though it was only on the surface, probably saved her from being raped when Kouga kidnapped her that time. The fact that Kouga had violated a scent claim just proved how desperate he had been to protect his tribe. The wolf might talk big but he'd never tried to take Kagome again. Hanyou or not, Inuyasha had the right to kill the bastard for taking his potential mate. That is one of the reasons he was always so angry when Kagome defended the wolf. She didn't understand...and he couldn't explain it to her without telling her more than he had been ready to tell her...and Kouga knew this and took advantage of it.

 

That was the whole problem…she didn't understand. His anger flared again when he thought about her remark concerning rape and he not being able to protect her. Of course he would never let anyone touch her like that! Didn't she have any faith in him? Didn't she know he would die for her if it would mean she was safe? Didn't she know that if any man besides himself touched her, whether she was willing or not, it would kill him? Or he would kill them…

 

The thought brought him back to the fact that she wanted a lover and it wasn't him… How would he bear knowing other hands caressed her? Could he bear it?

 

He took a deep breath trying to calm himself. His thoughts were going in circles and repeating themselves again. It was driving him insane. He tried to focus on Kagome's feelings instead of his own.

 

Was this what Kagome felt when Kikyou had kissed him that time? This anger and pain? No, Kagome did not love him like he loved her. Maybe she could have developed love for him a long time ago when they first got to know each other and depend on each other if only…but after she saw him with Kikyou, declaring his love and promising to protect Kikyou from Naraku…

 

And it had not helped that he had tried to discourage her from developing feelings for him in the beginning, thinking to protect her. No, he couldn't blame her for not caring for him as more than a friend since he discouraged it himself at one time. Thinking back on how he had treated her in the beginning, he was grateful that she still stayed by his side.

 

He closed his eyes for a moment and forced his body to relax, forced his youkai side to calm.

 

For her sake, he must mask his own feelings and allow her to find her own happiness. He would not try and stop her from finding someone else. He realized he had not been fair to her. She had missed so much of her life, giving her time and efforts to finding the jewel shards for him. He would not cause her more pain.

 

However deeply he loved Kagome, nothing had changed with his situation except his loss of hope of ever having her for his mate. He could not be with Kagome right now because he still had an obligation to Kikyou. Well, if he was honest with himself, there was also the fact that he and Sango had had the same fear. Getting Kagome with child before Naraku was destroyed had certainly been a scary thought...even if it now seemed to not be a problem. He felt his youkai stir again at the thought that he could take Kagome and not worry about endangering their future children since they could control when those children would be conceived…

 

He shook himself mentally. Hadn't he just listened to her say she wanted someone else? `Birth control' was irrelevant if she didn't want him.

 

And still, the problem of Kikyou had to be resolved before he could go further with Kagome…if he even had the option of going further with Kagome…

 

Well…she did say that she had not looked for someone yet. Maybe he had time…but, then again, he'd thought he had time before last night…

 

And Kikyou…when had he begun thinking of her as a problem…as an obligation? Actually, he realized, he thought of her only occasionally. Kagome consumed his thoughts and dreams most of the time now. Guilt rose within him. How could he forget Kikyou so callously? He loved Kikyou too, didn't he?

 

Yet, he wondered why just the mere thought of losing Kagome, even though she was never really his, hurt so much more than actually losing Kikyou ever had. This hurt went all the way to his soul.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Kagome was dreaming. She could feel Inuyasha gently caress her brow, pushing the hair from her face. Inuyasha had finally noticed her as a woman. His eyes were full of heat and longing as he touched her softly. She could feel his heartbeat against her ear, feel the heat of his desire permeating her own body and creating chaos low in her womb. She wanted his touch. She wanted him forever. Finally, finally they would be together….

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Kagome stirred on his chest. She was breathing fast and Inuyasha held his own breath. Her scent was so good right now that he had to forcefully restrain himself from pulling her into his arms and taking her right in the middle of camp and vigorously proving to her and all their friends that he would be the only one to ever touch her like that.

 

He watched her slowly open her eyes. She blinked, then her eyes darted to his hair, now completely changed back to its normal white-silver color, and then she looked directly into his eyes. Inuyasha thought he saw intense desire in her gaze, but she quickly lowered her lashes and tried to sit up.

 

He cupped her face with his hand to gently hold her in place. She looked back up at him, puzzled and expectant, but her emotions were now hidden from him. He supposed it was just his wishful thinking that made him see desire in her eyes a moment ago.

 

He wanted to say so much, but he could not say anything. She didn't want him to know and he couldn't tell her that he'd heard everything. Gods, this was killing him, but he couldn't force her to love him like he loved her.

 

He owed her so much that he could never repay. She deserved to be happy. He wanted her to be happy…even if it wasn't with him. Shit! How was he going to live through this?

 

Finally, after a moment, he simply said, “Thank you,” in a low voice.

 

Kagome was confused. “For what?” she quietly asked, idly wondering if her own blush was as dark as his.

 

He hesitated. “For…staying by my side….for everything…”

 

“Inuyasha, I'm happy to be here with you, and you know I will always help you if I can. You've saved me countless times. I trust you to protect me. So…so…we're even…. Are you okay? You look better now, but last night you seemed to be having a nightmare.”

 

He snorted and glanced away from her, “Yeah…a nightmare…I guess you could call it that.”

 

He brought his intense gaze back to her. Kagome wondered why Inuyasha looked so sad and hurt, maybe even angry. It must have been a really bad dream last night, she thought.

 

She looked away from his eyes. They scared her. Why was he being so serious? She wanted to take away his sadness. She wanted to grab him and hold him tight and never let him go. But she knew she couldn't. She had to keep her resolve to keep her distance and remember that he would never be hers. She knew he had been lost to her since the day Kikyou had been brought back from the dead.

 

She tried to sit up again, but Inuyasha held her face a moment longer. When she finally looked back into his eyes, he simply said, “I'm okay and, Kagome, …I trust you too.” And Inuyasha suddenly realized that he did. He trusted Kagome as he trusted no other even though she was breaking his heart.

 

Before Kagome could say anything, Shippou, who had just woken up, asked, “Kagome, is Inuyasha going to be okay? He looks normal again.”

 

Kagome tore her eyes from Inuyasha's and he dropped his hand from her face. She sat up, thankful for the interruption.

 

“Yes, Shippou-chan, I think he will be fine. Right, Inuyasha?” She gave them her best imitation of herself at her most cheerful and did not look at Inuyasha again as she stood and moved away.

 

Inuyasha quickly masked his emotions and sat up, cracking his knuckles in a mock threat to Shippou. “Why don't you come over here, ya little runt, and see if I'm back to normal?”

 

“Kagome! Inuyasha is picking on me again,” Shippou cried as he jumped into her arms.

 

She gave him a brittle smile and said, “Then I guess he really is back to normal. Go get cleaned up while I start breakfast.”

 

She put Shippou down, grateful that he did not see the strain on her face. She then went to her backpack to get supplies and also to have the opportunity to turn her face away from the group who were all moving around now. She wanted to compose herself for a moment before facing Inuyasha again.

 

Why now? Why was he acting caring and tender now when she had worked so hard to come to a decision about him?

 

She knew she was not being fair exactly. His actions were always caring, if not his words. But he almost never touched her on purpose unless he was protecting her or carrying her. Even though she had often run to him and held onto his arm for comfort and reassurance, he almost never touched her without a legitimate reason. He did tend to sit really close to her most of the time, but that did not involve touching and she thought it was just his way of being protective, and even then, his demeanor would be rigid and stiff like it pained him to be that close to her or something.

 

So why had he touched her face so tenderly just now? Was he really that affected by his nightmare last night? She was confused again.

 

She could hear Sango asking Inuyasha if he was okay and his low grumpy reply. Then Shippou and a too-cheerful Miroku set off to get water as Sango and Kagome started preparing breakfast.

 

Inuyasha made Kagome nervous for a few minutes by standing silently on the edge of camp and watching her. She refused to meet his eye and he finally left, leaping into the trees and moving away from camp.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

They had all finished eating, saving some food for Inuyasha, and were packing up camp when he returned looking angry. He studied Kagome for a moment but did not approach her, which was a relief to her. He was making her nervous. She wondered again what was the matter with him this morning. He was being too weird and her heart was beating too quickly. She tried to calm down.

 

“Sesshoumaru was here last night,” he finally stated to the group at large as he quickly ate his breakfast.

 

They all froze at Inuyasha's announcement.

 

“I can smell his stench,” he continued. “He was here for a while, at least until sunrise. The fucking wolf's disgusting odor is here too. He was here, maybe just hours ago, maybe longer. We're near his territory.”

 

“Sesshoumaru hasn't bothered us for over a year now. Why now? And wouldn't Kouga stop to see Kagome-chan if he got the chance?” asked Sango.

 

“Why didn't they attack?” asked Shippou.

 

“I don't know,” was Inuyasha's angry reply to both Sango and Shippou, but he glanced at Kagome, worried that Kouga might make use of what he heard last night, if he had indeed been there at the right time to hear anything.

 

He silently cursed his human night again for dulling his senses and preventing him from detecting threats. The thought of Kouga taking advantage of Kagome's vulnerable feelings and touching her infuriated him. He didn't think he could quietly stand aside and allow it, even if it would make Kagome happy. His heart wasn't that strong. He'd really kill Kouga if it came down to it.

 

He wasn't worried about Sesshoumaru hearing Kagome's conversation as much as he was concerned about his half-brother knowing of his human night. It couldn't be helped now. Hopefully, Sesshoumaru was just passing through and had ignored them completely. `He certainly has no interest in Kagome,' thought Inuyasha, `that's for sure.'

 

“Tessaiga would have protected Inuyasha if Sesshoumaru tried to attack, I think, since Inuyasha was human last night,” Miroku pointed out, “and Sango, Kagome-sama, and I are not exactly helpless even if we can't match Inuyasha's strength. We would have fought him. And I don't think Kouga would attack us. He'd just grab Kagome-sama and go…unless he was given a good reason to wait.”

 

The statement hung heavily between the adults and Shippou wondered what they weren't telling him.

 

The adults all wondered if Kouga had indeed overheard something that would give him a reason to have patience and, at a later date, perhaps try and persuade Kagome that he could take care of her `needs'. No one said anything since only Kagome and Sango were supposed to know there was anything for Kouga to hear.

 

“I think we should hurry up and go to Kaede-obaa-chan 's. We all need a rest anyway,” Kagome said into the strained silence. She expected Inuyasha to disagree as he usually did, but he didn't say anything. Was he really okay?

 

After a moment, when no one responded to Kagome, Sango broke the silence again by telling Kirara to get ready to travel. Kirara was recovered from the previous night's battle and ready to stretch her muscles again.

 

Kagome turned pleading eyes to Sango and the older girl immediately understood. She knew that Kagome did not want to ride home on Inuyasha's back this morning and wondered if Inuyasha had really been unconscious last night during Kagome's revelations. Sango had no wish to have the smug houshi ride behind her the whole way home either, so she asked, “Kagome-chan, why don't you ride with Shippou and me on Kirara for a change?”

 

Inuyasha and Miroku both jerked their heads around to look at them. Before they could protest, Kagome quickly agreed to Sango's suggestion, and Sango, with a quick glare, silently dared either man to say anything. The men both looked away, disappointed.

 

Kagome sent silent thanks to Sango and then picked up Shippou. He had been unusually quiet all morning as if sensing the tension in the adults. Within a few minutes, they were on their way, each adult deep in their own thoughts.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Inuyasha glanced up at Kirara flying above him. He and Miroku jogged at a brisk pace on the ground, but each of them had their attention on the women on Kirara's back.

 

Inuyasha had wanted to feel the comfort of Kagome's weight on his back during the trip home. He supposed he would need to get used to her avoiding physical contact with him in the future if she took someone else as her lover.

 

The thought of not ever touching her again was devastating. He had grown accustomed to her frequent touches. He loved her touch although he never allowed it to show. Her touch, her scent, her very presence near him gave him strength.

 

His anger and sadness rose and fell as the morning progressed. He alternated between hope and despair, alternately resigning himself to letting her go for the sake of her happiness, and faint optimism that he could find a way to keep her for himself.

 

He finally decided to try and talk to her when they stopped at lunch, admit that he had heard her last night, and try and tell her about his feelings for her. He had no choice. He had to make his position clear or he would lose any chance he ever had of keeping her forever. His stomach churned with nervous anticipation.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Lunch was a disaster as far as Kagome was concerned. She felt uncomfortable, acutely aware of the fact that Inuyasha was watching her…intently. She kept her distance from him, trying not to let him know that she was actively avoiding him. He had been in an even more foul mood than normal and she felt a myriad of emotions coming from him, all intensely aimed at her.

 

It didn't help that since his gentle show of affection for her this morning, she had felt incredibly guilty about the conversation she had with Sango last night. She felt almost as if she had betrayed Inuyasha in some way by the mere suggestion that she would seek someone else for comfort even though she hadn't done anything yet and he didn't know about any of it. Saying it out loud to Sango last night made her `plans' seem more tangible and real somehow and now she was doubting and dithering again in her mind.

 

She didn't want to hurt Inuyasha in any way, and she started to fear that, even if he didn't know about it, it would hurt him if she were with someone else. She wouldn't meet his eye even though she could tell that he wanted her to acknowledge him in some way.

 

She and Sango prepared their food silently, and then sat together away from the boys.

 

The tension was hard to take for everyone but Miroku, who kept a dreamy smile on his face the whole time, seemingly oblivious to everyone else's discomfort. Even Shippou kept quiet, confusion and apprehension evident on his face.

 

Finally, Inuyasha just about scared the crap out of all of them when he suddenly yelled at Kagome out of nowhere, calling her a `stupid fucking bitch' before jumping up and running away into the surrounding forest.

 

Kagome burst into tears and Shippou soon joined her.

 

They waited for almost an hour for Inuyasha to return before they left without him, knowing he could follow when he was ready.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

They reached the village at dusk. They'd had only an occasional glimpse of the red of Inuyasha's clothing during the last few hours of the trip, but they knew he was out there, keeping them safe, but also keeping his distance. He didn't come into the village with them and never showed up for supper.

 

Kaede could see the strain in Kagome's face and she also wondered at the unusually good mood of the houshi, but did not push them to confide in her. Kagome let her know that she was going home the next morning and would not return for a few days. Kaede thought this must be the reason why Inuyasha was apparently having a temper tantrum, but it still did not explain the houshi's sudden happiness.

 

She attentively listened to their news of the battle and their travels until everyone finally went to bed without Inuyasha returning. It was a long time before any of them but Shippou fell asleep.

 

Miroku smiled to himself as he thought of what would soon be his. He glanced in Sango's direction across the room, his eyes delighting in the curve of her hip under the blankets. His body was hard with anticipation. Finally, he closed his eyes and entered his favorite dream…. with Sango…naked Sango...

 

Sango wondered if she was doing the right thing. Giving herself to the houshi would be a big risk. Oh, but she wanted it so much. She hoped he would not break her heart…she'd cut his out and feed it to a youkai if he did…

 

Kagome thought of Inuyasha again. Had he heard everything last night? Was that why he was so upset today? But if he did hear everything, then he knows that she loves him and wants him, and if he knows but is angry about it, then it was proof that he does not want her that way and he was frustrated about the situation. She never meant to put him in such a spot where he would be forced to reject her… Oh, it was too painful to bear. After a long while, she drifted off to sleep seeking relief in her dreams.

 

In her fantasy, his warm, callused hands caressed her in places that caused such sensations and thrills. If only it were more than a dream…

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Shippou whined the whole morning as Kagome prepared to leave. Miroku merrily wished her a successful trip with a suggestive wink at Sango as they walked Kagome to the well. Sango pretended not to see or hear him. Kaede had stayed behind in the village.

 

Kagome scanned the area around the well, but saw no sign of Inuyasha. She thought he might try to stop her from leaving, but then remembered that he had not been there last night when she told Kaede that she was going home. So if he didn't know she was leaving this morning, then maybe he really didn't hear the revealing conversation between Sango and her after all because they had discussed Kagome going home that night.

 

But, then why was he in such a strange mood? Kagome was confused again. `It's just as well that he isn't here,' Kagome thought. She did not know if she would be able to `sit' him this morning while remembering his sad eyes from yesterday morning.

 

She hugged Shippou good-bye with promises of chocolate and other treats, said her farewells to Sango and Miroku, then climbed onto the edge of the well and jumped in.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Inuyasha stayed in the tree where he was hiding and watched Kagome walk to the well. He'd been so stupid. `Way to win her for yourself, you fucking baka! Call her names, yeah, that will make her love you for sure,' he berated himself. He'd been so ashamed of his angry outburst yesterday, he couldn't go back to face her last night.

 

He'd been so nervous and agitated. He'd wanted to talk to her during lunch and she wouldn't even look at him. He knew she was deliberately avoiding any interaction with him and he had suddenly felt angry…and betrayed. He remembered thinking that he couldn't trust anyone, not even Kagome, and everyone he'd ever cared about had either left him or turned on him.

 

For a brief irrational moment, he compared Kagome's withdrawal from him to the feeling he had had when time had slowed and he had watched Kikyou's arrow fly straight at him, knowing its impact would kill him.

 

Pain, anger, and despair collided within him and he'd spitefully yelled at her, calling her a name he knew would upset her.

 

A millisecond later, he'd regretted his outburst. Her stricken expression was permanently fixed in his memory and he felt like shit for deliberately hurting her. Shame had forced him to jump up and run from her. Run from his own stupidity and the sound of her crying. Run from his fear of a future without her.

 

He watched her now, telling the others `good-bye,' and he consciously tried to stop shaking from the effort it took not to go to her. He fought to control the panic rising within. Letting her go through the well meant giving her the opportunity to find someone else, someone better. His youkai side was raging, but her happiness was everything to him. He had to be strong. His grip crushed the branch he held.

 

When she was finally gone, he turned and moved away through the trees.

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Sesshoumaru silently watched from his own hiding place and thought, not for the first time, what a fool Inuyasha was. He started to leave the area before the hanyou sensed his presence, but a movement caught his attention and he looked back at the clearing near the well one more time. Was that the houshi skipping around the well with that little fox youkai? Was he singing?

 

 

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo ~ End Chapter 2 ~ oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

 

Author's Note: I humbly thank everyone who reviewed my story. I am touched and grateful that you would take the time to give me your comments and encouragement. I hope you liked this chapter and that I don't disappoint you with the rest of my story, although I'm nervous now that I can't live up to my first chapter. The beginning of this chapter was slightly disjointed and repetitive but I was trying to convey Inuyasha's confusion and emotional turmoil. I'm not sure if it quite worked like I hoped it would.

 

I absolutely hate to wait for weeks or months for an author to update and I promised myself I would not do that to anyone else if I ever became brave enough to post this story. It is my hope that I can update weekly, probably on the weekends, maybe more often if I think I've revised my revised chapters all they can stand to be revised. I'm a little obsessive about spelling and grammar too so I proofread compulsively, over and over again. Please tell me if I miss anything.

 

I've written roughly ten chapters of this fifteen or sixteen chapter story. Some chapters are admittedly better than others, but they all serve a purpose, and I'm learning what sounds `right' when I put it on paper as I go. I have an outline and chapter summaries that I am following so this is not being written off the top of my head. And don't worry; it won't all be angst. The lemons will occur in the later chapters but there will be some lime before that and the whole story revolves around the characters decisions about having sex, so no chapter is safe from innuendo and embarrassing dialogue.

 

Inuyasha does have a foul mouth in this chapter, however I defend it by pointing to the wonderful translations to be found on Ear Tweak [ear-tweak. com] and Inuyasha: Sengoku o-Togi Zoushi [www. wot-club. org. uk/ Inuyasha] (remove the spaces in each URL). Viz likes to sanitize Inuyasha in the English print releases, however in the original Japanese manga, Inuyasha is much more inclined to curse, especially when he is frustrated or angry. Maaaannnn is he frustrated and angry here…

 

And, yes, there will be a parallel plot with Miroku and Sango for those who asked.

 

Thank you again for your kind reviews and I hope you continue to enjoy my story.

 

 

^^^