InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Life in Your Eyes ❯ Bells ( Chapter 6 )

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long. I lost track of this story for a while, got really busy and just didn't post the chapter I'd written. I'm back in school again and taking a full load so it's been crazy around here. I was also out of commission for a few months. I got hit by a car riding my bike this summer and it made things really tough for a while. Luckily I wasn't too seriously injured, but I know I was REALLY lucky. So lesson is, don't trust cars to stop for you even if you have the right of way, always wear a helmet and... walking might be safer and it's good exercise too!

 

On to the new chapter!

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome stomped her foot in frustration, looking around the yard for the hanyou. He was nowhere in sight and she was becoming more irritated by the minute. Walking a few steps into the meager garden she'd begun a few weeks before, Kagome peered out into the misty dusk near the water. “Inuyasha?” she wondered aloud, hearing sloshing louder than that of the usual waves washing onto the shore. A few steps closer allowed her to see around the small section of trees that protected the house from the driving winds and storms of the sea. Kagome's eyes widened as she was met with the vision of a nearly naked hanyou rising out of the froth the waves kicked up, turning herself around abruptly and blushing to the roots of her hair. Her heart was racing and she pressed a hand to it in hopes of slowing it down to a more normal rate. With the sound of shuffling sand, Kagome realized that Inuyasha was coming up behind her and scrunched her eyes closed so as not to see anything inappropriate. A warmth flooded her as she felt the distinct sensation of his youki surrounding her. The closer he stood, the stronger the feeling and Kagome was quite sure he had to be standing close enough that she could easily lean back into his chest.

 

“Kagome?” he breathed somewhere near her ear. A soft shiver ran down her spine in response and she almost unwillingly leaned back into his strong chest. He was still damp from the water but she found she didn't mind, especially when his arms came around her waist to gently hold her. “I was fishing,” he supplied when she said nothing in response to his questioning tone, “I didn't catch much but it will last us the next few days.” Kagome nodded softly, closing her eyes as she sunk back into his embrace more comfortably. Having been separated from her family for a few months now Kagome missed the closeness and affection that they regularly had at the shrine. She was just now beginning to truly receive such attention from Inuyasha and she was reveling in every moment of it. He made her feel warm all over and so completely… loved.

 

She was so small in his arms. He felt like he could crush her without trying and the thought scared him a little. Kagome wasn't fragile but she was only human and with him now a hanyou again, he feared he might hurt her with his newfound strength. At the same time he couldn't keep himself away from her. She was everything to him now. Kagome's gentle heart had opened him to a whole new world of affection and trust, a world he would fight the very hounds of hell to stay a part of. Small hands shook as they softly traced his arms in what Kagome seemed to think was an enticing manner. She wasn't far off. Inuyasha felt her fingers trace his own until he could tangle his much bigger clawed ones with her far more delicate digits. “Inuyasha,” she breathed on a sigh, her chest rising and falling against his arms. The silver-haired hanyou could tell she wanted to ask him something but didn't know how to say the words. He had a good idea of what she might want but again his fear of hurting her rose to the surface, nearly driving him away from her. Unsure how, he found his lips softly touching the shell of her ear.

 

“Kagome,” he sighed, taking in her scent and trying not to drown in it. Not that he didn't want to, because he most certainly did, but he wasn't sure how his body would react. There was very little he could do, he imagined, to stop himself if he finally allowed his control to give in to Kagome and her sweet touches. `But what would be so wrong about giving in?' he wondered as his lips trailed softly down the column of her throat. She tasted wonderful and the sounds of her gasps and sighs made his heart race just a little. The gentle brush of her clothing against his naked skin made him shiver slightly, his arms tightening around her waist to keep her close as she took a step forward. Afraid she was trying to escape him, it took the hanyou a moment or two to realize she was trying to draw him toward the house. A deep growl rolled in his throat and Inuyasha swung Kagome up into his arms before carrying her inside and shutting the door behind them with his foot. Her face was buried in his shoulder, her warm breath fluttering nervously over his damp skin. “Kagome,” he purred into her hair, kissing her temple. At his instigation she lifted her face, allowing him to capture her lips in a soft kiss. After a moment he pulled away, desperate to continue but unsure of how to do so without frightening or hurting the beautiful woman in his arms.

 

“Let's rinse the salt and sand off you. It's kind of gritty,” Kagome whispered shyly, slipping to the floor as Inuyasha's arms went nearly slack in surprise. Leading him over to the basin of water they kept inside for when it was unwise to venture to the river to bathe, Kagome lifted the soft cloth and gently began washing his bare torso. A deep blush suffused her cheeks and her brown eyes remained lowered to his sternum. The hanyou chuckled softly at her innocent reaction despite his own flush. Needless to say he quit laughing when the edge of the cloth caught his nipple, forcing a gasp from between his lips. “Did... Did I hurt you?” Kagome questioned him in a timid voice. The hanyou shook his head rapidly, denying her fear as he took her hand in his. He brought the cloth back to his chest as encouragement and the young woman smiled faintly.

 

Every touch was amazing to him. The gentleness she didn't even realize she treated him with. For so long all he'd ever known was pain when someone touched him and to have Kagome carefully cleaning him made a thrill travel up and down his spine. This was more than the contented heat that usually filled them both when they touched. This was that and something more, something deeper... Biting his lip in contemplation, Inuyasha watched Kagome's bowed head for a moment. She smelled delicious and part of him wanted desperately to know where exactly the scent that made up Kagome came from. Granted it was all of her, her hair, the scent of her skin, the soap she used... But the deepest part of her, the very core of her being... what made her smell so heavenly? Inuyasha, with faintly shaking hands, slowly began massaging Kagome's shoulders. He didn't realize he was doing it, but he found where her kimono was loosest and started to slip it off of her. She didn't protest, simply continued to wash him, moving to his back and letting the water run down until it was clear his shortened pants would have to be removed if she wanted all the grit gone.

 

Neither one was particularly brave enough to simply tug off the other's clothing. Kagome wasn't so sure now that she was completely ready for this change in their relationship but she wanted to be. Inuyasha had never tried to rush her like Koga had and because of that she knew he respected her. That alone made her love him even more. At the same time she knew he was new to this as well and she didn't want to hurry him either. What if he... what if he got rough in his excitement like she'd heard women in her old village talk about? Young men were often excitable, she'd been told, especially with their first time. The bravery was almost always a front because they were usually more nervous than the girl. Kagome didn't think Inuyasha would hurt her, certainly not intentionally, but it had been so painful with Koga... “Kagome?”

 

Her fear was beginning to make him physically ill. What the hell had her so terrified? The hanyou couldn't believe that she was suddenly so afraid of him but maybe... “I just...” Kagome breathed deeply a few times, “It hurt before,” she whispered, leaning her forehead against the middle of his back. “I'm frightened. Not of you,” she pressed when he stiffened, “It just didn't feel right.” Inuyasha turned slowly, searching her eyes to see if she was telling him the truth. Her brown depths stared back at him, love, anxiety and a plea for understanding swimming in them.

 

“He hurt you, I would never hurt you,” he said softly, reaching up a large hand to touch her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. Kagome was too embarrassed to say anything more about the subject and Inuyasha wasn't sure he wanted the details. All he knew was that while Kagome's deceased husband had indeed stolen her purity, he'd left no physical mark or scent upon her. She didn't smell like Koga's mate and he knew she didn't love the dead ookami. To him, that was all that mattered. “Nothing has to happen now,” he told her to comfort her, “or ever if you don't want it to. It's up to you, Kagome.” Kagome opened her eyes and smiled gratefully up at him. With a soft sigh she leaned up and kissed him, sealing his words in a promise that they both intended to keep.

 

The next morning the two ventured up to the temple in search of Miroku. The monk was outside, standing against the inside of the wall and watching Sango practice with her weapon. She had amazing control with the huge bone weapon and Kagome envied the strength she must have. 'If I had strength like hers Koga never would have...' But Kagome couldn't finish her thought, Inuyasha tugging her along behind him toward where the monk was standing. He didn't acknowledge the pair at first, obviously still enthralled in Sango's form as he was, but Miroku's gaze shifted to them when Inuyasha cleared his throat loudly in a clearly teasing manner. Kagome tried not to laugh, hiding her smile behind her hand. Their friend seemed to have an avid fascination with the young warrior woman and though neither one had doubted it before, seeing it in full swing was amusing to say the least. “Ah, Inuyasha, Kagome-sama. Good to see you. You both look well,” he commented, redirecting their knowing looks with one of his own. Both the inuhanyou and young widow blushed faintly, unable to hide their flushed cheeks.

 

“We actually had a favor to ask you Miroku-sama,” Kagome spoke up from behind Inuyasha where she had previously been attempting to cover her embarrassment.

 

“This humble monk is ever at your service.” Inuyasha snorted impolitely. “What is it you needed?” Miroku inquired, shooting the silver-haired man a somewhat dirty look. Inuyasha returned the glare and the two were only distracted by the soft “ahem” Kagome let out when it was clear to her they were no longer paying attention. “Yes?”

 

Kagome took a deep breath as she discreetly clung to Inuyasha's hand a little more tightly. He squeezed in return and she felt a little braver for it. “Miroku-sama, we uh... Well you see we...” Kagome bit her lower lip in faint fear. What if he said no? Inuyasha was not a man of any fortune to speak of and obviously no reputation. She had no consent from her family and there was no way she was willing to search out Koga's to give her permission...

 

“What the wench means to say is we want you to do the mating ceremony thing you do. The...” Inuyasha stumbled over his words a moment, having forgotten the human term for the thing he was talking about. “A wedding,” he finally got out.

 

Miroku was staring at the two of them in astonishment. “A-A wedding? You want me to marry the two of you?” he asked, still clearly startled. Sango had trailed over to see what the fuss was all about by this point and was also staring wonderingly at the pair. Kagome was watching the monk's face with a fearful hope and Inuyasha was scowling at him. The demon slayer wasn't sure if he didn't want to get married to Kagome or if he was just showing a similar nervousness in his own way. She was betting on the latter. “But... but you're a widow Kagome-sama... You...” But he couldn't think of a reason why she couldn't. Granted her new family would have to give some kind of consent but with Naraku as the heir apparent he was willing to let that pass. Her own family was terribly far away... “Should you not seek out the approval of your family Kagome-sama? Surely they should know the man you are about to wed!” Miroku cried, feeling that something should be done to postpone the two from making a rash decision.

 

Kagome had begun shaking her head almost immediately. “I want to tell them but I can't yet in case someone else finds out Koga is dead. They'll meet Inuyasha soon, just not yet.” Her eyes pleaded with the monk for him to grant her this request, to grant it to both of them. Inuyasha's gold eyes stared into his face, searching for the reason behind his protestations. “We've discussed this. With the two of us living in the same house and feeling the way we do,” she said, blushing fiercely, “it's best for us to marry and keep anyone from making unfair accusations.”

 

There was logic behind her statement, Miroku just wasn't sure it was the right logic. The pair hardly knew one another. Granted they had spent a lot of time alone in the months since Kagome had arrived but Inuyasha had been mute for the majority of them. What the monk didn't know and probably wouldn't understand was the actual volume of communication that had been going on. No one would have heard it and very few had seen it, but the pair had come to learn a great deal about one another without the use of spoken word.

 

“Is there nothing I can say to convince you to wait even a little longer?” Miroku begged futilely.

 

Inuyasha gave the monk an angered look and he finally allowed himself to drop his resistance. The houshi would marry them the following day, the extra day needed for his preparations and the pair, extremely unwillingly, agreed to stay apart for the rest of the day and through the night until the ceremony at dawn. Kagome, for her protection, stayed at the temple while Inuyasha made his way through the field alone to her home... their home. 'Tomorrow it will be ours,' he thought firmly as he rounded the copse of trees that shaded the cove from the road. He sniffed to make sure it was clear of enemies, smelled nothing and so made his way into the house. Everything was as it should be but for some reason the hanyou felt uneasy. Something wasn't right. He could feel a heavy weight on his chest, like when he'd caught some human disease a few years back and had been laid up in the temple under Miroku's watchful eye for nearly a week. Suddenly he realized it was the pressure of his demon blood, so long repressed and now fighting its way to the forefront

 

At first it was faint, then the howling of his blood reached his brain. 'Too far away from Mate!' it cried. How it formed words he could understand in his head, Inuyasha had no idea, but he wasn't in disagreement. He'd been loathe to leave her in the first place and now that he had a backing excuse, he gathered the things he'd need as well as those things Kagome had requested he bring to her and hurried out of the house. Using his hanyou speed to his advantage, he was there within a few minutes. Miroku wouldn't let him see her, but just being within smelling range of Kagome made him feel worlds better. He knew she was safe, nervous about the coming morning, but still in one piece and healthy. In the right part of the main room he could even hear her moving about and breathing, his ears twitching as he listened intently for anything she might say to the monk or demon slayer.

 

With his blood at a more sedate level, Inuyasha was actually able to relax and think about what was happening to him. His life had so suddenly changed that he'd hardly taken the time to think about it. Kagome's arrival in the village had been more than unexpected. No one new had moved near the seaside village for years. Inuyasha, despite how they obviously felt about him, knew all the villagers by face and name, their children, dead husbands or wives, even some of their pets. All he'd really been able to do for years was listen and take in information. Not that he'd focused on it much when it wasn't necessary, but when the time was right, he knew how to use it. Kagome was completely unlike anyone in the village. Her mind was open, her heart kind and her smile bright.

 

For the first time in his life, Inuyasha felt truly happy. Not the tentative feeling he'd had with Kikyo before it had all fallen apart, but a true, deep sense of security and happiness that made his nose tickle with excitement. 'Kagome will be mine tomorrow.' The thought swelled in him until he couldn't help the tiny smile that lit his mouth. After speculating on the following morning's proceedings for a little while, the hanyou finally allowed his pervading contentment drop him into sleep with the sound of Kagome's breathing just on the other side of the wall.

 

As the sun peeked just above the edge of the ocean, the occupants of the temple were already moving about in their rooms. Miroku had lent Inuyasha a more respectable set of clothes to wear, a gift from the headman of another nearby village. They had never been worn, as the young monk had no need of them and they were slightly too big for him anyway. Luckily, they were a fairly good fit for the hanyou, though he thought it likely he would have had the same problem as Miroku were he still human. Kagome had made sure that the dress she wore was not the one she wore to her last wedding, instead choosing one that she'd worn to a spring festival several years back and had kept in case such an occasion rose again. If there was ever an occasion she'd thought to keep it for, this hadn't been it, but she was definitely glad she had.

 

“You're excited.” Kagome glanced over her shoulder at the woman helping her dress. She smiled and nodded. “That's good. You both looked so nervous yesterday,” Sango murmured around a hairpin, trying to hold Kagome's lengthy hair up, twist it and talk all at the same time. The young bride raised one hand to hold the twist in place while the other young woman pinned it. “Thank you. You look wonderful,” she said with a little pride. Kagome flushed at the praise.

 

“Thank you for helping me. My... my mother did it the last time.” Kagome's smile fell a little, remembering that her family would not be here to witness this wedding. Her mother's face had been strained when she helped Kagome dress for her wedding and the young woman really wished her mother could see how truly happy she was to be marrying Inuyasha, to wipe the memory of that look from her mind.

 

Sango saw that her new friend was remembering her first wedding, obviously not a happy occasion by the look on her face. “Kagome-chan? You'll get to see them again,” she whispered, looking down at her hands where she still gripped several hairpins. She didn't look up when Kagome turned fully to face her. “Don't give up hope, alright? Inuyasha will find a way for you to see them, I'm sure of it. Miroku seems certain.” At the soft sob that left her companion's lips, Sango finally lifted her eyes and let a sad little smile twist her mouth. “No crying now. You're getting married!” Her change of attitude seemed to help Kagome considerably and the two spent some time bringing proper color back to her face. “Don't want you to look all blotchy for your big moment, do we?” Kagome laughed and allowed Sango to fluff the skirt on her dress then adjust the flowers that they had placed in her hair.

 

Sango was right. Today was a truly happy occasion. She was determined not to cry anymore. With her dress perfect, her hair looking wonderful and her face back to a normal shade, Kagome was ready. She was getting married... again. This time was the right one though, she could feel it from her head to her toes. “I'm getting married,” she whispered to herself to make it real. A huge smile lit her face and Sango led her out of the room and into the main sanctuary of the temple.