InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Gathered Storm ❯ Silence is not the Way ( Chapter 3 )

 

*DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Inuyasha characters. But I love playing with them!*

 

Leave me out with the waste

This is not what I do

It's the wrong kind of place

To be cheating on you

It's the wrong time

She's pulling me through

It's a small crime

And I've got no excuse…~ 9 Crimes by Damien Rice

 

 

Chapter Three: “Silence is not the way”

 

 

A cannonade sounded from the distance to the west that caused the rolling tundra Inuyasha stood upon to quiver marginally. A storm was building quickly, he could smell it. The promise of a harsh winter teased at his senses with the scent of snow whispering along the forthcoming weather.

 

A rude gust of biting wind whipped through his silvery locks and reminded him that if he wished to get back to the campsite before he froze, he best do so before the impending storm. The hanyou stooped slightly, readying him into a starting position before taking off across the rocky grassland at an incredible speed. He'd have to scale the cliffside once more which procured a grumble to resonate from Inuyasha's lips.

 

The thought of being by the fire did quiet his mind a bit as he hopped from the risen crags along the floor beneath the cliff. Pride would never let him admit it, but he desperately longed to be at the side of his companions. Naturally a loner due to his breeding and obvious charm, he found it curious that he'd been warming up to the idea of traveling in a pack.

 

As the thought struck him, he acquiesced to the notion that he had a new pack. Come to think of it, this was really the only pack he'd ever had. And even though their species varied amongst demons, humans, and lecherous monks, they all had become family to the lonely hanyou. Their bonds were adamant despite his brash behavior and occasional illogical outburst. What had drawn them together was their common purpose: to eliminate the dark hanyou that plagued the land with his lowly minions and kept them from living their lives.

 

Inuyasha knew this to be true: he would do anything for his new pack. An epiphany recently had graced his mind regarding a certain member of his ménage. Above all the members of his clan, he wished nothing but to give Kagome the utmost happiness that she rightly deserved. And with this powerful declaration came the other realization that this was the first unselfish wish he had since being released from that damnable tree. And all it took was a girl from the future to come crashing through the old well and into his life to cause his cold heart to change.

 

Where did that leave him now? `Simple,' came his inner gruff voice. `She is ours.'

 

Inuyasha shook his head roughly at the persistent split-personality that dwelled within him. `Listen, just because -you- want her to be doesn't make her ours.'

 

`You feel it,' grumbled the dormant beast. `She longs for us. Tell her that she is ours!'

Inuyasha growled back at his inner demon. That meddling being within him was causing more and more trouble as of late. And the more anguish the voice of his heart caused him, the more brash his reactions would be towards Kagome. He was afraid of revealing his true self to another once more. The last time he spoke his heart, a flying arrow pierced him to the sacred tree and the woman of his affections was murdered. He wouldn't dare voice his feelings now.

 

`You're doing it again, lummox. You doubt our strength and your faith in our mate.' Inuyasha winced inwardly at the insightful voice that prowled inside his mind. `Its not lack of faith in Kagome… But if this happened once, it could damn well happen again!' The venomous words he spat back at the conflicting voice only seem to goad it on.

`You're pathetic. We know we are stronger. We've learned from our mistakes. And she is much stronger in her past-life's form…' The gravelly voice drifted into a whisper as Inuyasha's eyes widened in memory.

 

Kagome absolutely loathed being compared to Kikyo. And it was the same with Kikyo. They were two separate beings, yet one had become incarnate from the first's passing. Kagome was selfless and passionate, while Kikyo was self-righteous and overly cautious. Their likeness in their outward appearance was uncanny, but each of them held certain attributes that he cherished.

 

The utmost attribute that Kagome held was that she was vibrant and allowed her emotions to show freely. Kikyo had never confessed her true heart to Inuyasha, even now when she would stand in her resurrected form. She desired him, but it was more about control.

 

He felt a pull at his heart as he remembered his foolish vow to Kikyo. He promised to go to the depths of Hell with her if she so commanded it. He was a man of honor, and he would not go back on his words. But the tug at his soul when he was around Kagome told him that his promise to protect the strange miko was now more important. She had woven her essence into his soul, linking them together with her mystifying energy that naturally poured from within her. This woman that was living, breathing, and traveling with him now had more power over him than that of his dead love. And she had no idea…

 

The power that she wielded was not that of selfish desires for control. In fact, it seemed to be more of an oblivious and subconscious instinct. Yes, she could command him with one three-letter-word. And sometimes, in his opinion, she would use it a bit too freely to his liking. However, her natural reaction to protecting, soothing, and even impassioning his beast revealed her selfless desires. Her strength was in her love for others.

 

And it would only be a matter of time until that whispering nudge at his heart would send him over the edge. The scent of her soothing vanilla and intoxicating spicy musk was growing stronger on the wind. Even then, he felt it-- the rising form of the caged demon within his half-mortal form.

 

The moment had come that he could not deny these emotions that were mounting within him. His beast took his subconscious act of quelling as an invitation to solidify his claim over his intended. A flood of power spread through his limbs as he scaled the cliff. Kagome was close. Her scent was stronger, yet the hint of salt from what could only be her tears invaded his senses.

 

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

As she was tucking her littlest demon back into bed, Kagome sighed at the realization that she would not be able to sleep this night. A quick peek at her other companions affirmed her thoughts that unlike her, they could sleep soundly through the rising gales.

 

She drew her hands roughly over her face to scrub away the tracks of her tears. It was becoming tiresome; the continual act of crying after her heart broke a bit every time Inuyasha ran into that dead girl's arms. She took in a deep, cleansing breath and turned from the campsite.

 

The clouds were quickly covering the expanse of the pitch dark sky and the breeze was growing colder. Kagome snuggled deeper into her rich, jade colored cloak that Kaede had given to her on her eighteenth birthday. The fabric was beautifully woven and constructed to protect her against the elements. It was definitely proving its use tonight.

 

She selected a rather flat boulder to rest upon while she looked over the valley below. Inuyasha had been gone for at least half a day now, and her concern for him was growing. Idiot, she thought to herself, he's more than capable of taking care of himself. She dipped within her soul to touch base with the calming and healing energy her spirit naturally produced. A sensation of peace swept through her form and lulled her anxious mind.

Another thought passed through her mind as she pushed her energy from the well within her, reaching her aura out towards the direction that Inuyasha had disappeared to. Kagome felt his demonic presence coming fast back to the camp. A shiver ran down her spine as a shock of frustrated energy pulsed into her body. He was upset. Unhurt, thank the heavens, but definitely ticked off.

His energy called out to her as she sensed him reaching the top of the cliff. The need to soothe him rose in her as she slipped from her seat at the rock to meet him head on. She would not shrink in fear of this overwhelming frustration that his drive exuded. Her delicate fingers pulled the hood of her cloak from her head, sending her wavy mane to dance about her shoulders in the wind.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

A calloused hand, grasped a risen crag upon the cliff as he lifted himself to the top. His golden irises with rimmed with red from the exertion of emotion that his beast was releasing. Purple slashes against his cheekbones were barely visible but were bright enough for Kagome to see. Yes, he was certainly in a predicament.

 

The beautifully masculine form crouched at the edge before facing her direction. Inuyasha's movement towards her was a self assured swagger, taking his time to reach the woman of his desires. Her brow creased in bewilderment as she tried to assess his present emotional state. It went beyond frustration. It seemed more like the passion he kept caged was about to break lose. A gasp escaped her rosy lips as she realized that she was the key that would either release his emotional fury or calm it back into submission. The latter seemed more likely and her stomach flip-flopped at her theory.

 

Kagome had been so lost in her analysis, unknowing that Inuyasha stood right before her now. His possessive growl brought her to her senses, causing her to respire in surprise. She angled her face to look at him straight on. Her jaw set, daring the desirable hanyou to begin the confrontation. When he simply stared into her vivid chocolate brown eyes, she resolved to start the conversation.

 

“Inuyasha…” was all that passed from her lips before his sculpted arms came around her, crushing her against his chest. The sizzle of energy singed at her senses before she calmed herself enough to speak once more, “Inuyasha, what's the matter?”

 

The silkiness of her voice wrapped around his heart. He could feel his beast practically roll over in contentment at the mere sound that slipped from her lips. There was more to the question her posed though. He could still smell the salt from her sadness even as her scent spiked with the hint of arousal. Inuyasha pushed down his male pride as he recognized that she needed an explanation.

 

“Nothing. Nothing is the matter,” a husky voice responded.

 

“Liar. I know you well enough to know when something's up,” Kagome declared, shifting in his grasp.

 

“What do you want me to say, Kagome?” He stated bluntly. Damn, he was aggravated. The beast was soothed by her presence, but Inuyasha's mind was still torn between feeling guilty about leaving Kagome and condemned for leaving Kikyo. As usual, he was taking his frustration out on her. He really wished she'd stop squirming. It was only making his beast take on its truer form as the curves of her body teased against him. Dammit, he was angry! This was no time to feel hot and heavy for the angelic creature that both enraged and soothed him.

 

Kagome's brow puckered at his harshness. It wasn't a surprise, really. He didn't know how to show his feelings properly. He wouldn't be Inyuasha if he didn't blow up needlessly. “Tell me what happened. I know you left to go find her, Inuyasha, so there's no need to try and cover it up—or try to answer a question with another question. For once, would you just tell me what's bothering you?” The volume of her voice was louder than she had intended it to be, but the man tended to bait her pointlessly.

 

His claws shifted in her cloak, pulling her tightly against him before he replied. “Look, woman, I don't want to talk about it. I feel like a jerk for leaving you like that, ok? It made you cry, and I hate it when you cry.” I hate it even more when I'm the cause of her tears, he thought to himself.

 

His actions into pulling her into a tighter embrace only seemed to bring the desires that his body craved to explore. She could feel the heat rising from his stalwart form which both pleased and frightened her. She gathered her thoughts and shot back: “I was upset. Wouldn't you be if you were in my place?”

 

Inuyasha's fingers slipped up her back and into the midnight tresses of her hair forcefully. “I don't think you're angry enough at me, Kagome.”

 

Her bow-shaped mouth dipped slightly at his words, “I'll be the one to judge if I'm angry enough or not, Inuyasha.” The frustration in her voice reverberated as she continued, “And here I was, worrying about you. But no, you're Inuyasha. The hard headed, stubborn and impulsive man, as always. I suppose you don't need my help then?”

 

His response was not vocal. The physical retort was more than either of them had expected. The impulse of shutting her up came as quite a surprise as his mouth had descended, roughly capturing hers in a demand. He wanted her to cease her incessant chatter. This seemed like a good way of doing so, though he instantly regretted it as the rise of his beast shook his foundation and logic.

 

The bruising kiss softened slightly as the need became more of a request instead a demand from his lips. Kagome's eyes widened at the change in the demeanor of his touch, letting her guard down slightly. Her coal-wreathed eyelids slid closed at the sweetness behind his actions showed through. Her hands rested against his chest, fingers curling slightly as his lips slid over hers with a pleasurable sensation.

 

Inuyasha gave into the sensations that claimed his heart and body while she was in his arms. It was pointless to fight it at this time; his beast would never let him. The muffled moan from her lips that sounded as his hand held her close at her lower back was the only encouragement he needed to pursue the kiss further. He slid his tongue teasingly against her bottom lip, tracing the outline of the fullness of her soft flesh. Kagome's lips parted slightly in a gasp at the sensual action, giving him ample opportunity to taste the sweetness within her welcoming mouth.

 

Gusts of wind swirled around them as they embraced in the dark, the only light trailing from the campsite. They took no notice of the ice crystals that dropped like white petals from the sky, nor the sudden drop in temperature. The moment only contained the two of them entwined in a warm embrace.

 

A pair of mischievous, violet colored eyes twinkled with laughter as he observed the love-struck fools from his hiding place beyond the campsite. At last, the stubborn hanyou had come to his senses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: Thank you all for the fantastic, heart-warming responses! I am honored by everyone's help and compliments. Again, any questions or responses are welcomed. You can contact me through the PM on the site, or visit my myspace site at www.myspace.com/caitypeach22.

 

SONGS that inspired these last few chapters:

 

~ “Breathe Me” by Sia

 

~ “Sweet Sangria” by Tori Amos

 

~ “Love” by The Smashing Pumpkins

 

~ “9 Crimes” by Damien Rice

 

~ “Letting the Cables Sleep” by Bush