InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Sealed Fate ❯ Chapter 19

“You smell the strongest. You have her scent all over you.” He lunged at Shippo, grasping him by the tail. He raised him up to meet his red stained eyes.

“Where the fuck is my bitch?”

“Waaah!” The fox wailed, as he attempted to squirm out of the dog demons hold.

“Inuyasha! Put Shippo down! There is a reasonable explanation for all of this!”

“If he doesn't calm down he's going to go completely over the edge!” Sango shouted.

Kikyou stood up, grasping her bow. She began to draw it back.

“Inuyasha, release the kit.”

He bared his fangs at her.

“You!” His eyes flickered. “This is a familiar scene. Gonna shoot me again, Kikyou?”

“Don't shoot, Kikyou!” Miroku pleaded with her. “He has not crossed the line yet, we could talk him out of this.”

“He has done this before?”

“Yes, but Kagome always managed to bring him back. Even when he lost to his demon blood.”

She narrowed her eyes at his statement. So the girl was able to pacify Inuyashas demon blood? That means she would be even more capable.

The clay miko dropped her bow to her side and took a step towards him.

“Don't fucking come near me bitch!” He seethed. He lips were turned up in a menacing scowl. She could see the length of his fangs. They were made for tearing flesh from the bone. This was the man she had offered her body to not a few hours before.

“I do not wish to harm you, Inuyasha. Release the fox. Your friends claim there is a reasonable explanation as to why you think you smell that girl.”

He growled from deep in his chest. Purple streaks were slashed across his cheeks.

“I don't think I smell my bitches scent. I KNOW I do. Now tell me where the fuck you're hiding her!”

“Inuyasha,” Miroku said, attempting to take a step forward, “the reason why you smell Kagome is because we have her things.”

“What?” He demanded, his breathing hard and labored.

“When Kagome left, she did not take her bag filled with supplies. We hid it away in case she did indeed come back. However, after all this time we decided that it would be best to see what was left inside her back pack and put them to good use. That is why you can smell her.”

His eyes widened, not wanting to believe the information.

“You're lying. I can smell it.”

“You smell our fear, Inuyasha. We fear for you when you are in this state.”

“That bitch points an arrow at me, and you're afraid of me?” He barked out.

“Look at how you're holding Shippo, Inuyasha! Let him go!” Sango piped in.

He brought the fox closer as he sniffed him once more.

“Not until he tells me why he has such a strong scent on him.”

“It's…it's because…because…” he stammered, causing the dog demon to growl in frustration.

“It's because Kagome had a stuffed dog in her bag that she slept with, and Shippo took it!” Sango supplied.

“Eh?” He seemed to calm a bit, gold bleeding through the red. His demon was still raging, but his human blood was working to get it under control as his friends tried to reason with him. He knew his woman had a fondness for those things.

“Yes, look.” Miroku said, as he backed away to get the toy. “This must have the strongest smell, because Shippo has not put it down since he found it.”

Inuyasha eyed the toy dog skeptically. He released the kit, who fell to the floor with a loud thud. Shippo scampered away and hid behind Sangos legs. Inuyasha snatched the offending object from the monks hands and brought it close to his nose.

He closed his eyes. Yes, that was the fragrance he had smelled. Wild flowers. Kagome. It calmed him. Brought him back to reality.

It broke his heart.

It was as if she was here, as if she had just stepped out of the room to get some air.

It was as if she would return any minute.

Inuyasha hung his head. He breathed in one long, last breath through his nose to catch her scent. He dropped the plush toy and retreated from the hut.

Yes, earlier he had felt too crowded in there. But it didn't make a difference if he was confined to the four walls of the old hags place or to the vast open areas of the forest. He felt suffocated anywhere that didn't have Kagome.

~.~

He ran until his legs ached. It seemed that was all he was capable of doing these days. Not facing his problems, not making headway, not doing anything at all except for avoiding the issues at hand.

He needed Kagome.

He was actually going mad without her. He needed to get this under control.

One thing had been made clear from this episode; he could not lead Kikyou on like this any longer. One whiff of Kagome and it had his demon ready to decapitate anyone withholding information on her. His blood was still boiling, telling him that all humans are filthy liars and not to be trusted. That they aided in Kagome's escape, so why would they tell him the truth now?

He bit down on his tongue to clear his thoughts. He tasted the metallic flavor of his blood as he raked his claws through his silver locks.

Damn. He had been so sure that she was there.

He surveyed his surroundings. At some point he must have turned around, as he was staring at the well. He slowly approached it, sneaking up on it as if it would sprout legs and run away. As he ran his palms over the lid, Kikyous voice broke through to him.

“Do you intend to try it, Inuyasha?

“Yes. I do.”

“I know that you often come here, and test the well to see if it has opened.”

“I just… have to be sure….

“She left you, Inuyasha. She does not wish to be with you.”

The hanyou lowered his gaze, staring into the dark depths of the well. How many times had he taken for granted his ability to hop back and forth between worlds? How many times did he squander the opportunity to hug her little body closer to his as they made their way through the portal? It seemed as if all he had done was miss out on opportunities with her. He was such a coward. He truly was a bastard.

He was quiet for what seemed like an eternity.

“…You're wrong.” He said, his voice barely audible.

“What?” The miko asked, surprised that he responded at all.

Inuyasha raised his head. “I said, you're wrong.”

“Inuyasha, if she cared about you, she would have fought for her right to be beside you. She relinquished her claim to you easily.”

He let out a small laugh.

“That's exactly how I know Kagome loves me.” For the first time in months, a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It was a sad, melancholy one, but it was still there.

The miko stepped back, as if truly seeing him for the first time.

“Of course my wench would do something as fucking stupid as this. It's because she thought it was what I wanted. She thought it's what would make me happy. Just like her to take things into her own damn hands and decide-“

“And does it…. Make you happy Inuyasha?... To be with me….”

The hanyou looked at his former love. At one point in time, he would have given anything to hear that question. To hear the slight insecurity in her voice. She had always been so cold, so reassured. He would have once melted to know that he had any effect on her at all.

Now he felt nothing of the sort. His stomach lurched at the thought of saying these things out loud; but today, he was like a shell of a man. Every word he said felt heavy. Today, he was incapable of guilt and remorse for anyone but himself. He was so damn tired of suffering.

“No Kikyou. It doesn't.”

Her eyes glistened as she set her jaw.

“I… I see.”

“Kikyou…” He turned to face her squarely. “You will always been an important person to me. But I can't be with you how you want. I love Kagome. She's my mate.”

The miko stood still as if in shock. Then, much to the hanyous surprise, she began to laugh bitterly. She held her sides as the sounds rippled through her clay body. When she regained control of herself, she stepped towards him.

“Oh Inuyasha.” She said, a smile still tugging at her lips. She placed one cool hand on his cheek, as he flinched away. “It does not matter what you want.”

~.~

Miroku sighed as he slumped his body against the wall. That had been a close call. He had been expecting this; that is why he made sure Sango and Shippo rehearsed their cover story before they went to sleep. He assumed it was a mixture of shock from being awoken, and the fear of Inuyashas demon that muddled their brains and slowed their responses. Still, he had to admit that they got out of the situation unscathed, so all in all, it was a success.

The visit from Kagome was just what the group had needed. He had missed the girl. She was a great comfort to the monk. He enjoyed her oddities and carefree behavior. The woman he encountered were always uptight and strict; or overly flirtatious and dumb as a rock. Not that he didn't enjoy those types. They always proved for a good time.

But Kagome was different.

She was smart and fierce, and even when afraid she did not back down. She stood up for her values and beliefs and had the ability to put that rude bastard of a hanyou in his place. He liked the way she made light of situations and would laugh with anyone. She never judged, and always sympathized, finding the good in everyone she came across. And most importantly, enjoyed the short styles of her strange dresses.

What was unique for him, was that although he looked at Kagome and found her physically desirable, she was perhaps the first woman who was truly off limits to him. They may not had come to terms with it, but Kagome and Inuyasha belonged to one another. He would test his boundaries and flirt from time to time, all in good fun. But it was only on a rare occasion that he dared feel the curve of her bottom, which always elicited a severe response from the dog demon in question.

So, as he could not see her as a potential lay, he instead viewed her as a friend.

In fact, his first female friend. This bizarre woman with her futuristic ways had somehow found a permanent place in his heart, and it had nothing to do with trying to get her into bed.

There were many things that he loved about her, but perhaps the thing he admired the most about Kagome was the way she changed people. She took him in, the most lecherous, perverted scheming monk in all of Japan, and found a way to make him honest. Well, semi honest.

She took an orphaned fox and made him a home, found him comfort… gave him a family. The same could be said for his beloved Sango. She had been broken to pieces on a suicide mission when Kagome stumbled across her. Had she not been present in the group, there was no doubt in Mirokus mind that Sango would have refused the offer to travel with two men and a kit. Because Kagome was there, he was able to meet the woman he loved and help heal her.

And Inuyasha, how she had morphed him. Kagome single handedly had shown him that humans had worth, had a good side. If not for the miko, he would have never known him to have a tender side. How the demon who could rip through monsters with his bare claws was able to blush such a deep shade of red was always a fascinating topic for Miroku. He had enjoyed watching their budding romance. He ignored the times that they would sneak off to be alone together. He knew too well the feeling of wanting to embrace your lover uninterrupted.

His beloved Sango… he had not seen that light in her eyes in months. She had been so over joyed to see Kagome that he wanted to bottle her excitement and save it for her. Yes, they did indeed have need of the shard that Kagome now possessed. He had lied through his teeth when he told her they were not at a critical point in their journey.

But he would not deny Sango that happiness. He would rather his wind tunnel give him the same fate as his father than take the smile from her lips. And now, with that single shard, Sango had something to look forward to. In a months' time, Kagome would make her way through the well again, and the light would return to his beloved eyes.

He felt guilty about deceiving his friend, the pain he suffered clear on his face. Miroku closed his eyes and sighed. Next month… Next month he would tell Kagome of Inuyashas need for her. Perhaps then he could right this wrong.

~.~

Jiro watched as Kagome moved around happily. Good vibes seemed to radiate off of the girl. It made no difference to him. He sat in the kitchen seething. She really wouldn't tell him!

Why not! Hadn't they reached a point of trust? What was it that had to be kept so secretive?

“Oi, Kagome.” He said, trying to turn her attention from the snacks her mother had provided. She turned to face him with a happy grin.

“Hm?”

“I want to ask you something serious.”

“Jiro. If this is about where I was, I told you already…”

“Before, when I first came here… you depressed about a guy...”

Kagome bit her lip. Way to ruin the mood, Jiro.

What could she tell him? He seemed relentless! She knew he was not going to give up until she divulged some sort of information. Well, she had had enough practice skirting around details with her friends. She would just have to feed him the same generic lines.

“…Yes.”

“Kagome… tell me what happened.”

She looked at him seriously for a moment, then nodded her head. She moved to the table to take a seat across from Jiro.

“I… hm how do I begin?”

Jiro waited on baited breath.

“I can't tell you all of the story. But I can tell you part of it.”

“Well, get on with it. Some is better than none.”

“Alright, don't be so pushy. This is hard for me to talk about, ya know?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“I…was in love with a guy… Inuyasha.”

“Inuyasha? What kind of name is that?”

Kagome narrowed her eyes. Even now, she hated when anyone took a shot at her hanyou. He didn't even know Inuyasha to be a demon and he was already judging him. Did he ever get a break?

“An old one. Now be quiet.” She rubbed the back of her neck. This was harder to talk about than she anticipated. “I was in love with him, but he was still really hung up on his ex. They had a pretty intense history together. Everyone thought she was totally out of the picture. But when she came back… it was like she came back from the dead. She toyed with Inuyasha and played hot and cold.”

“But he was still dating you?”

“Yeah. It was my choice. He tried to push me away, but I wouldn't have it. I loved him too much. And in his own way I knew he cared about me. He was really rough and he was the single most stubborn person I have ever met. But he could also be so gentle. He had a side to him that people assumed he didn't have. ”

“That's a lot of pretty words for saying he's a two timing bastard, Kagome.”

She shook her head.

“No, well, maybe you're right. Who knows. I can't even say for sure and I was there. The lines between all of our relationships were so blurred. All I knew was that I loved him.”

“He sounds like a real asshole Kagome.”

“Hah, yeah he could be. But I don't think he meant a lot of what he said and did. He always protected me; always saved me. When he was there I knew I was safe. And even though he had every reason to be a bitter person, there's no doubt in my heart that Inuyasha is a good man who deserves so much more than what he was given. Despite our ending…meeting him was the best thing to ever happen to me.”

Jiro fidgeted, feeling uncomfortable hearing his Kagome speak so openly about another man. “So what happened?”

“His ex approached me. She wanted to get back together with him, and wanted me out of the picture. I knew that he never got over her. They had so much history between them, that if me leaving the situation could help heal him… I would do it.” She let out a little laugh. “It felt like my soul was being torn away. Leaving him was the single most painful thing I have ever done in my life. And I've done things that are not pleasant.”

Jiro looked her up and down. What had this girl done that was unpleasant? He always saved her? She seemed like any other high school student. Was she living some double life he had not caught on to?

“So, you're seeing him again?” Jiro sputtered out, grinding his teeth. Kagome looked him in the eye and smiled.

“No. I'm not. I haven't seen him since I left.”

“Left?”

“Can't say.”

“But your mysterious disappearance has something to do with him?”

“Kind of. It does and it doesn't”

“Your being confusing on purpose, woman.”

“Maybe!” She quipped, giving him a smile. “Like I said, I can't go into details.”

“Then why the hell did you tell me that in the first place?!”

He was mad. Furious even. Some asshole had used her; betrayed her trust. Hurt her to the point that she was a ghost of the woman he knew when they first met. He would bet his life that that bastard had never shown her what it was like to be loved, to be desired. Sure, she was a bit younger than he, but he did not look at her as a child. She was a grown woman in her own right. Graceful in her actions and seductive in her movements. Her eyes held both innocence and wisdom. He wanted her for himself.

More than anything, he was mad that someone had gotten to her before he had. He wanted to be her first everything. Well, that asshole can be her first heart break. He would be the one to mend it. He would be her first true love.

It was well past time he started taking action.

“Because I knew you were going to keep bothering me until I told you something! And even though that was really hard to talk about, I'm glad I did. I don't think I've said it out loud before.” She laughed. “Next time, I'm going to grill you on your love life.”

Jiro captured her hand in his. He gently stoked his thumb over her knuckles. Kagome met his eyes with confusion.

“I'll tell you anything you want, Kagome.”