InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Silent Regrets ❯ Chapter 8

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Silent Regrets

Author: Ryukotsusei

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho belong to their respective owners. As much as I wish I could claim a part of it, I cannot. The plot however and any OC's my twisted mind happens to come up with though is mine.

Summary: IY/YYH It's strange how regret can make you think, two people take a journey to discover what's really important. Pairing: Hiei/Kagome

Chapter Eight

Inuyasha stared at Kagome, a scowl on his face that appeared to have become permanent ever since she had come back a month ago. She refused to go back through the well and had told him the subject was closed but he could see how it was affecting her with each passing day. He had meant what he had said, that he missed the old Kagome and everyone else did as well. Sango and Miroku had stopped by for a visit just over a week before and even they were concerned. Sango had even asked Kagome to accompany them back to her village in hopes of raising the girl's spirits but the offer had been politely declined. Miroku had pulled him aside, wanting to know exactly what had happened to cause such a drastic change in the once cheery girl.

His gaze shifted to the sky, taking note of the dark clouds overhead that told him the weather would soon take a turn for the worse. The talk he had with Miroku had confirmed what he thought, Kagome refused to return because she was afraid. Not for the first time he was kicking himself, knowing that their failed relationship had been what planted the seeds of doubt in her head and her inability to cope had caused them to grow. She just wasn't going to take the steps necessary to fix this and every time he brought it up it developed into a major fight which drove the wedge even further between them.

They no longer talked like they used to, very rarely spending time together but neither was willing to give on their stand. Instead Kagome was bound and determined to throw herself into her training. She was going to become a powerful priestess one way or another and nothing was going to stand in her way. Inuyasha sighed heavily, if only Kagome would realize that she had become more like Kikyo then ever with her somber mood. He had thought they were alike before but he hadn't realized how wrong he was until now.

Shippo stood at the base of the Goshinboku staring up at Inuyasha. He no longer knew what to think, he was happy that Kagome had come back but he couldn't stand the tension that permeated the air around her. He had made it his mission to cheer her up, but at most he could only get a small smile and perhaps a hug out of her for his troubles. Even his drawings which she had so loved before weren't enough to pull her out of her melancholy mood. It was time they did something about this problem, he only hoped that between the two of them they could figure out a way to make Kagome happy again. Quickly he started to climb the tree, his destination the same branch that Inuyasha was reclining on.

The hanyou knew he was coming and waited until he got in arms reach before he grabbed him by the back of the shirt and hoisted him up the rest of the way. Shippo wouldn't have come seeking him out without good reason. In fact the kit had taken to giving him a wide berth knowing how irritable he had been lately. "What do you want runt?"

Shippo scowled at him for the use of that despised nickname, no matter how many times he objected to it Inuyasha still insisted on giving him degrading pet names. It was something he had learned to live with but it didn't mean he had to like it. "You know you don't have to be so mean all the time. Maybe if you'd be nicer and stop picking fights Kagome would be happy again." He wasn't certain of the specifics behind what had happened but he was certain that Inuyasha had a part in it somehow.

"What do you know about it brat? It's not me that's making Kagome unhappy. She should do us all a favor and just go home." Inuyasha crossed his arms, resisting the urge to pitch the kitsune out of the tree. What did the fox know about Kagome's moods? He was trying to help her but if she was going to be so bitchy then nothing was going to get through to her.

Shippo stared at him with huge eyes, not believing what he had just heard. In the past it was always a fight when Kagome wanted to go home and Inuyasha would insist she stay there. Now the hanyou was wanting her to leave? "How can you say that Inuyasha? She was gone for so long! Now she's back and I don't want her to leave again, so quit being so horrible to her. This is your fault isn't it?"

Inuyasha smacked the back of Shippo's head, nearly knocking him out of the tree. "Keh, not this time hairball. I'm not the one who told her to fall in love with someone else and I sure as hell didn't tell her to run away from her problems." He ignored the surprised look that crossed Shippo's face. 'That shut him up.'

Shippo's mouth open and closed several times as he gawked at the hanyou. Kagome in love? Since when and why hadn't Inuyasha said anything to any of them before when he came back from his visits? Didn't they deserve to know what was going on in their friend's life? "Kagome's got a mate?" He continued to stare at Inuyasha in disbelief.

Inuyasha snorted at that, apparently the kit's nose was broken if he couldn't tell that Kagome was still a virgin. He shouldn't have been surprised though somehow. "No stupid! Kagome picked someone and then ran when she got scared! That's what this is all about, she wants him but doesn't think he wants her." Once again the thought came to mind of just dropping her down the well but he had already tried more than once and gotten sat for his trouble.

"Why am I always the last to know about this things?" Shippo shook his head, not knowing what to make of this revelation. It explained much of her behavior though, women were so strange as he was coming to find out. "Does he want her?" If Inuyasha had known about this then it had to be someone who was on the other side of the well. The hanyou would know the answer to the question, that could be why he kept telling her to go home.

Inuyasha frowned, that was something he'd like to know himself. Sure, he knew what his nose had told him but he'd rather hear it straight from the other demon. But the only way to do that was to go and talk to him, something he wasn't exactly looking forward to. Hiei didn't exactly care for him and he couldn't say the feeling wasn't mutual. Their personalities clashed too violently and it was only Kagome's presence that had stopped them from coming to blows on more than one occasion. Just another instance of that protectiveness the hybrid had for the girl. "I think so but he's never said anything to either of us. He scent marked her, even you've had to have noticed that."

Shippo nodded slightly, he had indeed smelled it but attributed it to the added protection Inuyasha said she had gained on her side of the well. With that mark on her no one would attack her, unless they had a death wish anyway. But that didn't prove that this demon had feelings for her, it could have just been a precautionary measure. That mark was bestowed in a few different instances: claiming a potential mate, giving protection to family or a close friend. "So why don't you go find out?"

"It wouldn't make a difference if I did. Kagome still won't go back." He ignored the stare Shippo was giving him, even if he went through the well and talked to Hiei it wouldn't change things. Kagome wouldn't return to her own time and he couldn't force her.

Shippo took one of his mushrooms and threw it at Inuyasha, hitting him in the head. "Do you ever think Inuyasha? If this guy loves her you can tell her and she'll go through." At the look of skepticism on the hanyou's face he continued. "Even if she doesn't want to you can always make her." When Inuyasha gave him a blank look he hit him with another mushroom and then ducked the hit the hanyou aimed at him.

"And just how do you think I can get her to go through? You've seen what she does, she sits me!" If Shippo had any bright ideas he'd be happy to hear them, so long as they didn't cause him any physical pain. He was getting rather tired of eating dirt and more than once regretted his decision to keep the rosary on his neck.

Shippo rolled his eyes, irritated that he had to be the one to plan everything out. How Inuyasha called himself the leader of the group when they were shard hunting he would never know. "Take her while she's asleep. You've seen how she works herself into exhaustion, she won't wake up until you get her to the other side, if then."

Inuyasha considered this, what Shippo had said was true. If she was asleep then it wouldn't be hard to get her out of the hut and through the well. Then he could drop her off in Hiei's capable hands and they could sort this out for themselves. He wasn't going to take that step though unless he was certain her feelings were returned. If he dropped her off and things didn't work out he didn't want to be on the receiving end of her wrath. "Alright kid, I'll go and see what he says. If he wants her back then we'll work something out. Not one word about this to Kagome, I don't want to be purified for trying to help."

Shippo nodded and began the climb down while Inuyasha bounded off towards the well. Perhaps he could find something to keep himself busy while he waited for news. As much as he didn't want Kagome to leave again he hated seeing her so upset. If this made her happy again then he would be happy for her.

Inuyasha stopped about fifty feet away from the well, concealing himself in the upper branches of a tree. He wanted to make sure that Kagome wasn't anywhere near the well since she had disappeared while he was conversing with Shippo. Unfortunately for him he knew his clothing stuck out quite badly, hence the precaution of distance. He waited for several minutes, his ears twitching every so often as he took in the sounds around him. He couldn't pick up her scent either and after a while he deemed it safe to go forward. Moving quickly he covered the remaining distance and threw himself over the edge of the well, allowing the portal's magic to wash over him. For better or worse he had taken a stand. He just hoped that it would turn out right for everyone concerned.

Hiei jerked away from the window when he felt the well's magic. He stood there unable to move, having given up hope that she was going to come back. Honestly he didn't know why he had even chosen to remain at the shrine. The few times he had left though with no intentions of coming back invariably he found himself back on the property. The only one who continued to hold out hope for the girl returning was Kuwabara and he had even gone so far as to bring Boyu back, much to his consternation. Now with that familiar energy washing over him he allowed hope to flare to life once more.

He began to make his way across the living room when the front door opened. His expression became guarded as Inuyasha walked in shutting the door behind him. The hanyou was the last person he expected and without a word he turned around, taking up his position at the window again. The dog's actions alone told him that Kagome hadn't come with him.

"We need to talk Hiei." Inuyasha ignored the insult of being presented with the hybrid's back, knowing that if he started a fight it would be counter productive to what he came to do. He sat down on the couch, his eyes falling to the small book that rested on the small end table. He knew exactly what it was, Kagome had thrown a fit when he attempted to look into it. Something about a diary being a very personal to a girl or some such crap.

"Do we?" Hiei raised an eyebrow, wondering exactly what Inuyasha's presence there meant. The hanyou looked serious about something, no doubt about Kagome. He could smell the girl on him though it wasn't a strong scent. Apparently they had been keeping their distance from each other. That reassured him to some extent, it didn't look like they were trying to resurrect their dead relationship.

Inuyasha crossed his arms, meeting Hiei's glare with one of his own. "You're damned right we do. I've got one extremely unhappy miko on the other side of the well and her problems all stem from you." He didn't miss how the hybrid's glare intensified when he said that and he knew he was treading on thin ice. Still, old habits die hard and he was too used to baiting the apparition.

"I'm not the one that told her to leave. I fail to see how this is my fault." Part of Hiei was relieved that she hadn't found what she was looking for in the past but another part of him snarled at the thought that he was happy she was unhappy. This past month had been hell for him, wondering if she was safe since he couldn't reach her. Wondering if Inuyasha would be enough protection to take care of her since she was so prone to trouble. It still hurt more than he cared to admit that she had left him, even if she thought he didn't care for her. He had read the diary, more times than he could count and the only conclusion he could draw from it was that it was too painful for her to remain near him believing her love to be unrequited. If only she had been straight forward and told him what she was thinking, this could have all been avoided.

"It's your fault because you didn't tell her exactly what you were doing. She had no way of knowing you had put a potential claim on her. That's what you intended right? Or am I wrong? If so I'll go back and deal with things. She said there was no way you could care for her. Was she right?" The challenge was thrown down now, it was up to the apparition to either confirm or deny the accusation. He only hoped that he was right about this.

Hiei turned back to the window. He had rationalized the scent mark by telling himself she could use the added protection but even then hidden deep within his heart which he believed buried he knew there was more to it than that. "My feelings for her are not of your concern. If Kagome wants to know then have her come and ask me. You should not have been brought into this."

Inuyasha stood and stalked up to Hiei, his stance one of intimidation though the apparitions demeanor did not change. "They are my concern. Kagome was under my protection long before she met you. If you care then you'll tell me. She won't come back on her own, she's too afraid. What you don't know is she's slowly killing herself over this. If it goes on too much longer it wouldn't surprise me if she just gives up. If you don't give a damn then I'm just wasting my time.” Inuyasha waited for some response, seeing he wasn't getting one he continued. Hell, I don't know what the hell she sees in you anyway."

Hiei's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, wanting nothing more than to cut the hanyou in front of him down but he couldn't. The blood would be too difficult to get off of the floor and his last tie with Kagome would be gone. "Bring her back here, I'll speak with her and see if we cannot get this cleared up."

Inuyasha snorted before leaning against the wall. "You must think I have a death wish. Kagome won't come willingly. I'd have to bring her here when she's asleep but I'm not going to do it without knowing your intentions. So I'll ask one last time, you better answer or I'm walking out of here and you can kiss any chance of seeing her again goodbye. What are your intentions with her?" He could see the conflict in Hiei's eyes as he struggled with the idea of revealing his emotions. It wasn't something that was an every day occurance for men such as themselves, preferring to keep everything bottled up.

Hiei sighed heavily, knowing he had to have Inuyasha's cooperation on this one if he was to have a chance to make things right. His hand slipped inside his cloak, pulling out a very worn, rumpled piece of paper. Smoothing the edges he once more looked over Kagome's goodbye note to him. For her, he could do this but he wasn't going to spill his guts to the dog. "Bring her, if she still feels the same she will become my mate."

Inuyasha stared hard into Hiei's eyes for several long moments, reading his true intentions. He could detect no lie, if anything the apparitions scent intensified signaling just how determined he was on this course of action. Once Kagome was back with him the hybrid had no intention of letting her go again. "Fine, I'll return with her. It may not be tonight, I have to wait until I'm sure she'll stay asleep. God knows every time I've tried to toss her ass in the well while she's been awake she's used this damned necklace."

Hiei nodded and slipped the paper back into his cloak. His eyes narrowed at the thought of Inuyasha throwing her around but he knew that he wouldn't hurt her. Not intentionally, he just had about as much tact with these things as Yusuke did. "I'll be waiting." He watched Inuyasha turn and walk out the door. Now that he knew she was coming back he could wait as long as necessary. His own feelings weren't in question, only hers.

Koenma was still an issue, wanting to know how Kagome was doing since he hadn't been able to pick up her energy. Only a quick lie from Kurama had saved the day with that one, telling the demigod that he felt it was in her best interest to learn to shield herself and the jewel and that he had taught her how to erect a strong barrier. Koenma had been fairly pleased with the idea and that day the four of them had breathed a sigh of relief. After he felt the well's magic a second time he went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down upon the bed. It was the one place her scent was the strongest and it helped to calm him. He would need all the patience at his disposal to wait for the hanyou's return, whenever that would be.

Inuyasha leapt out of the well, thankful that Kagome wasn't nearby. If she had been, there would have been no place for him to hide except at the bottom of the well. He didn't exactly like the thought of being a sitting duck. He traveled through the forest quickly making his way back to the village, searching for Kagome. He found her in the fields, helping Kaede pull some plants that would be needed to made necessary medicines. Even from a distance he could see the exhaustion in her features as she bent over once more to dig out the roots of another plant. Tonight would be as good of an opportunity as any to take her back. Now he just needed to find Shippo to let him in on the plan.

Several minutes later found him in a clearing watching Shippo practice his fox fire. "Oi runt, come here." He wasn't exactly sure how Shippo was going to react to hearing Kagome was going to be leaving once more. Sure, he had been all for the idea before but now that it was a possibility things could change. Shippo's cooperation was important if this was to work.

Shippo stopped what he was doing and walked over. By the seriousness of Inuyasha's expression he knew that what he had to say was going to be important. "How'd it go Inuyasha?" He sat down in the grass, waiting to hear if Kagome was leaving again.

"I'm taking her back tonight, I've gotten his word that he's going to mate her if she still wants him." He watched Shippo's reaction carefully, seeing how the news seemed to sadden the kit. He wasn't surprised, he wasn't exactly looking forward to her leaving either but it was for the best. "I'll need your help Shippo. If you sleep with her it's going to make it more difficult to get her out of here."

Shippo nodded, knowing that would indeed be true. Even now, with the cloud of despair that clung to her at night she clung to him for comfort when he was there. "Okay Inuyasha, I have some place I can go. Just... make sure that she's going to be happy if she's going to stay there."

"She'll be happy, he cares for her. That's all she needs." Inuyasha turned and walked out of the clearing to wait for nightfall. He wasn't surprised to see Shippo race ahead of him in the direction where Kagome was working. The kit would want to spend every moment he could with her, knowing this would probably be the last time he saw her. Once she was mated, it wasn't likely that Hiei would allow her to come back since he could not come with her.

Later that night he stared at her over the fire, watching her sink deeper into sleep. She had been exhausted, barely taking time to bath. She hadn't even had the energy to eat, preferring instead to curl up in her sleeping bag. He waited for several more minutes, content to just watch her. He knew what he was doing was for the best, it was for that reason alone that he would stick to the plan. It was time, he couldn't wait any longer. With a heavy sigh he made his way over to her, unzipping the sleeping bag. He picked her up gently, cradling her against his chest. The chill in the air hit her and she snuggled in closer to his warmth, mumbling sleepily. His heart clenched when he heard Hiei's name fall from her lips. She would be happier when this was over.

Moving quickly before he changed his mind he made his way to the well, careful not to jar her. He doubted she would awaken but there was always the slightest possibility and he was taking no chances. The journey seemed to fly by and take forever both at the same time. Eventually though he stood before the well, the last leg of the trip. Taking a deep breath he tightened his grip on her and then jumped into the waiting darkness.

Hiei felt the magic once more and stood up. He was surprised that the hanyou worked so quickly, figuring the man would want at least a couple of more days with Kagome to himself. Silently he made his way down stairs and out the front door. As he crossed the courtyard he saw the door to the well house slide open, Inuyasha stepping out into the moonlight with Kagome tucked securely into his arms.

They stood before each other, a silent understanding coming between them. Both would do anything in their power to make sure Kagome was safe and protected. Hiei took the girl from him, increasing his youki to heat the air around them. A pleased sigh escaped Kagome's lips causing him to look down at her. He finally felt right again, a contentedness spreading through him that he had been missing. He looked up at Inuyasha, nodding to him once before turning to take her inside.

Inuyasha stopped him, a hand on his arm. "Make sure you take good care of her... and tell her.. Tell her to be happy." He dropped his hand and turned to walk back into the well house, knowing that Kagome was back where she should be.