InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Sealed Fate ❯ Chapter 22

Inuyasha watched as she waved good bye and smiled over her shoulder. Then, as quickly as she had appeared, she jump into the well and was gone. Koga looked down in fascination.

“…She really is gone…” He stammered.

“It's always feels so empty when she leaves.” Sango said.

“Yes, Lady Kagome does have a unique energy.” Miroku added.

“I wish she was here all the time!” the kit said, squeezing the toy closer to him.

“I can't believe-“Koga had started.

Inuyasha walked in front of them, eyes cold and deadly.

“I can't believe you didn't fucking tell me.”

~.~

His eye darted from one target to the next, unable to focus on which person he was more furious with. Miroku, the one person who knew how badly he ached for Kagome? The person he occasionally opened up to? The person who dared call himself friend? Sango, who saw how he missed the girl, but did nothing to help them reconcile? Shippo, that damned brat, who had been rubbing it in his face, knowing how her scent affected him as a demon. Or Koga, that bastard, who got to spend precious time with his mate?

The hanyou was beside himself with fury. If not for the night of the new moon, he was sure his demon would have taken over, and he may not have been able to control himself from tearing them to shreds. They had been hiding his bitch after all.

Liars.

When had he let his guard down and trusted humans? Their emotions always so fickle and wavering. It's no wonder that they had so many damned problems. Infidelity, distrust, betrayals. And they had the nerve to look down on his demon heritage!

They simply projected their own shortcomings onto his kind.

As a demon, when he mated he couldn't betray his mate. For a dog demon, that ritual is performed only once in their lifetime. Although he hadn't taken Kagome to bed, his demon still claimed her as his. Even if his human wanted Kikyou, he was sure his demon blood would not allow it, not once he put his mark on her.

He would never forsake Kagome for another. Once mated, dog demons simply were not made that way.

And loyalty. He sneered at the idea. He was loyal to his `pack' to a fault. He knew that something was going on. He was aware that they were excluding him, although he had no idea it had been this. And yet, he chose not to confront them. He was such a fool. Had he done so he could have had Kagome back months ago!

Damn it! Damn them!

Well, they would make amends for this whether they wanted to or not.

They would make this right.

~.~

Kagome climbed out of the well and lowered herself to the ground. She was exhausted. These late night rendezvous were taking their toll; her internal clock was not programed for all night hangouts. Howver, she wouldn't trade it for anything. She finally got to see her dear friends again. It's worth whatever grogginess that results.

I lied. I would trade it for something. For someone…

Stop it! Stop it Kagome! He's not yours!

She leaned her back against the well and banged the back of her head against it, wondering if she could literally knock some sense into herself. The entire reason she left was so that way they had a fresh start; the chance they always deserved…

Kagome sighed and closed her eyes.

Just a few minutes… then I'll definitely get up and go in the house…

~.~

“Get the fuck out of my way.” His tone was sharp, deadly. His friends took a step back from the depth of his voice.

“Inuyasha! You must wait! Do not be so hasty, Lady Kagome has most likely sealed the well, and”

“That's why I need to hurry the fuck up! I don't want to hear shit from your mouth you lying monk! Now move!”

He pushed past Miroku only to find a confused and angry wolf blocking his path.

“Keh, gonna challenge me Koga? Bring it. I'm seriously pissed off! Today will be the day I'll finish your sorry ass.” He said with a devilish smirk.

Koga cocked an eyebrow and looked over Inuyashas form.

“In that state? Say what the hell happened to you mutt face? You don't have such a strong stink today as you usually do.”

“None of your damned business. Now get out of my way! I need to get to Kagome!”

“Cant. If she doesn't want to see you, and I mean, who can blame her, then you need to respect her wishes.” Koga said, crossing his arms. It was a look of authority, of the alpha wolf.

“Keh! Your one to talk about that crap, always putting our filthy hands all over my bitch. You knew she was mine and you still approached her. I ought to gut you just for that!”

“Its not my fault you were so damned stupid to be hung up on that walking corpse. Kagome isn't yours dog shit, so get that straight. I don't know the entire situation, but I do know that Kagome doesn't want to see you. So I won't let you get to this well.” Koga practically beamed in challenge. “Ill take you, even if you are a weak human!”

“That's right you don't know whats going on. Why do you even care! I heard you tell Kagome you plan to mate Ayame. Get the fuck out of her and let me deal with my woman!”

“Heh, I said that. But I will never give up on Kagome. I might not be able to mate her as I want, but that doesn't change how I feel about her.”

“Kagome is mine.” He spit out, cracking his knuckles.

“Inuyasha, enough of this!” Mirkoku screamed. “Look at yourself! Do you intend to cross to Kagome's time in this state? If you do, you will only drive her further away.”

This made the dog demon stop. Yes, he was radiating an evil aurora. His nerves were frazzled, he was on edge because the sun was about to rise. If he saw Kagome…

He didn't want to see her like this. He had dreamed of the moment that they would meet so many times. The beginning had many variations, the ending always with him marking her.

In none of those fantasies was he half crazed and rabid.

He took a breath. The sun was rising. As he felt the warm rays caress his body, he shivered as the transformation took over. His heart beat quickened to adjust to the rapid changes.

Pulse.

His hair glistened silver I the light. His ears twitched at the new sounds.

Pulse.

His fangs lengthened. His nails became razor sharp. He felt the muscles in his body stretch. He was better built. A predator ready to kill.

Pulse.

He could smell her sweet scent. Wild flowers. It was almost as if she were here. He clenched his fists, digging is claws so furiously that he drew his own blood. His anger was over whelming. He had to be careful. His demon was begging to make these bastards pay.

Inuyasha took another breath to calm himself. Wild flowers. He opened his amber eyes.

“You're going to explain everything to me. Now.”

~.~

Kagome awoke with a crick in her neck. What was worse was the heavy weight over her middle. She stretched and moved closer to the warmth, bringing the covers closer.

Wait, blankets? When did I get into bed? I don't remember…

She lowered the comforter and peeked one eye out. Jiro! He was in her room! In her bed! Had he found her last night? He must have… he must have carried her in here! How much did he know??

Why on Earth was he sleeping with her? She felt her cheeks burning with shame and embarrassment. That weight must be-

Kagome gulped.

That was Jiros arm. He had his arm wrapped around her! She bit her lip and studied the man who had made himself at home between her sheets. Shock waves rolled through her as she flew the offending blankets off of them. She couldn't be in bed with Jiro!

Kagome hated to admit it, but he was handsome. He had strong features that made his face purely masculine, in a good way. In a really good way. Her eyes traveled lower as she bit her lip. Yes, Jiro definitely was in shape. It wasn't that she hadn't noticed just how muscular his figure was, but with only the thin tee shirt he was wearing, she could see the outline of every one of his abs. She had the sudden urge to run her fingers down his stomach and trace them.

She had to get out of here!

He was asleep; now was her chance. She carefully lifted Jiro's arm. She couldn't help but notice how heavy it seemed, pure muscle. She laid it gently on his chest.

She sat up and began to crawl to the other end of her bed. Of course she was between the wall of her room and the hard wall of Jiros body. It wasn't like she could jump over the man. On hands and knees she began her journey. She had to be quiet. She prayed that the bed wouldn't move or squeak; it was an agonizing pace. Kagome let out a small sigh. Finally, she was nearing the edge!

Her enjoyment was short lived as confusion clouded her mind.

It happened all at once. She felt a hand swiftly latch onto her foot, dragging her back towards the headboard. Kagome then felt strong hands grab her waist, lifting her up and turning her, only to be thrust down to lay flat on her back.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she felt Jiro's body hovering over hers. His thick legs straddled hers, the arms she had just admired holding his upper body weight. He looked flushed from sleep, his eyes swirling with emotions.

How many times had he dreamed to see her this way? Lying under him, hair fanned out, her chest heaving with excited breaths. He allowed himself one moment to soak in the fantasy.

`Gods, she's beautiful. I want her so badly.'

But first, she had to be punished. His eyes rested on Kagome's lips as she worried the bottom. He licked his own, practically salivating.

“Ji-Jiro…” She stammered, breaking him out of his lewd dreams.

He set hard eyes on her.

“And what the Hell were you doing last night? Why the fuck were you in the well house?”

“You, you found me? How?”

“I start my work out routines before the sun comes up. I was running the Shrines grounds when I heard you moaning in your sleep! I thought it was a homeless person! I opened the door ready to attack, and who should be there slumped against the fucking well but you.”

“So you brought me back? Then why are you in bed with me?” she said as she squirmed trying to get out from underneath him. Jiro bit his tongue in an effort to control himself. Did this damned girl know what she was doing to him?

“Because you were so out of it that you didn't even hear me slam open the door. I was worried! Besides, I got permission from your mother.” He said with a crooked grin.

“Wh-what?!”

“Yeah, it seems whatever you were doing caused extreme exhaustion. Your mom and gramps went into the city to visit a relative. They were going to cancel because no one could get you to wake up, but I offered to look after you.”

“I'm sure that mom didn't think you were going to be in my bed!”

“How else am I supposed to look after a troublesome girl who sneaks off in the middle of the night? By the way what the hell were you doing? Where did you go?!”

“I, I can't tell you Jiro…”

He scowled. “This has something to do with that guy, doesn't it?”

“Well, not really. I mean, it does and it-

He leaned down and stopped her chatter with a kiss. It was more than he could take. He didn't want to hear about her ex-boyfriend. He didn't want to hear any name from her lips than his own.

She trembled under him. She hated to admit to herself that it felt good. His lips, his tongue, the sensual dance they were doing. It felt good. But something pulled at her; she couldn't help it. In the back of her mind, the same thing kept replaying.

Inuyasha. Inuyasha. Inuyasha.

Jiro lightly tugged her bottom lip with his teeth and soothed it with a gentle kiss. He trailed them over her cheeks, from the top of her head to her chin. He rested his forehead against hers and looked her on the eye.

Jiro took a deep breath. He needed to steady himself before he spoke. He needed to gain control before he let himself get carried away. He had to let her know.

“I meant what I told you Kagome. I'm serious. I want you to be mine.”

~.~

Inuyasha listened as they retold their story, each offering bits and pieces of a puzzle that didn't seem to make sense.

“So Kagome found a shard in her time, and that's how she's been able to get back here?” He frowned, wondering if she had been hurt retrieving it. `Damn it, I thought her time was supposed to be safe!'

“Yes, we apologize Inuyasha that we had to keep this information from you. It's just that-“

“Save it. I have no interest in hearing our apologies.”

“Now wait right there Inuyasha! You made this mess. If you had once, once! Placed Kagome above Kikyou, then she would not have caved so quickly. Kikyou approached her, telling Kagome that she wanted to be your wife. And as much as it hurt Kagome, she went away, thinking that it was what you wanted, because that's all you have ever proven to her! She was always the one to put her feelings out there for you, always the one to make the first move. And you always trampled on them! If you-“

He rose to his feet and growled at the slayer.

“Enough! I know I'm a fucking idiot that doesn't deserve her! Why the fuck do you think I pushed her away all the time?! It was never Kikyou over Kagome. I owe Kikyou. That doesn't mean I love her more. If I fucking did, don't you think I would be married to her living in that hut the village is making me? I fucking love Kagome. And because you think you know better than everyone else, always sticking your nose in other people's damn business, she's been hurting for a year and there nothing I could do to fix it. Because my `friends' wouldn't even tell me the fucking truth!”

“And what would telling you have solved, Inuyasha? You still have Kikyou waiting for you at Kaedes!”

“Well, if you had bothered to ask me what was going on between us I could have told you properly! Not that it's any of our business!”

“What an excuse! That's exactly why I didn't tell you! Because you never make choices, not when it comes to Kikyou. If I had told you that each month Kagome comes back here, what would you have done? Grabbed Kagome the moment she came through the well and what? Have her live beside Kikyou?”

The hanyou bared his teeth at Sango. Miroku stepped in between them.

“Now now, Inuyasha, Sango, please calm down a bit!” He turned to the dog demon. “Inuyasha, yes, it was wrong on our part that we withheld this information from you.”

“Damn right!”

“But, we did it to protect Lady Kagome. We also… we also did it out of fear. We were afraid that if you approached her, she would not return. We are selfish people and have not been worthy friends of you. Please, forgive us.”

Inuyasha considered the man before them. Deep down, he had known that all along. And if he was honest, he could understand their position. When faced with losing Kagome forever, or betraying a friend, it was not even a question which he would choose.

“Keh. I'll forgive you if I can get Kagome to come back.” He looked at the group before them. “I'll need your help.”

~.~

Kagome head was spinning from the events that had taken place. She let the hot water from the shower wash over her as she scrubbed her body clean.

Jiro… Jiro was serious. He really wanted Kagome. He had asked her to be his. The look in his eyes, so tender, so determined.

She didn't know what to say, other than ask for some time to consider him properly.

Would it be okay to be with him? She did enjoy his company, he made her laugh, made her furious. Jiro was handsome and made her feel safe. She knew he would treasure her and treat her well. They could go on dates and leave the shrine without worrying about his ears causing a scene.

Inuyasha.

It always, always came back to him. Even when Jiro kissed her so passionately, his voice still rang in her mind. Would he ever leave her heart?

But, he was not hers to think about. He was with Kikyou. He was finally happy, after all these years, after so much heartache and trouble. Her love for the dog demon was so great that she had sacrificed everything. Before, her social life, her academic career, group dates with friends, possible romances. All for him.

And when they transitioned, she gave even more. Her heart, her love, her passion, all to him. To take when he wanted, as often or as seldom as he pleased. Was she even a thought in his mind, her feelings, her desires? Was he aware how badly she longed to embrace him as a lover, not just as an occasional tryst? Even then, she had never known where the stood.

Yet, she had always known her place.

She was doomed to be second best. At times, she was sure that he looked at her as Kagome, and others, when she swore she saw love in his eyes, she knew it was Kikyou he was seeing.

If she was with Jiro, there would be no comparison. There would be no Kikyou that came before her. No dead girlfriends that suddenly made an appearance. In this time, the dead stayed dead.

Kagome could even picture herself loving Jiro. She could see a timeline of their life together. Her off at university, becoming a doctor, him standing beside her, cheering her along the way. Marriage, children. Taking over the shrine. Happiness.

It all sounded wonderful. And it all sounded easy. Didn't she, for once deserve something to be easy?

It wouldn't be a love like she had with Inuyasha. With the hanyou, she loved him from deep within her soul. It was such a heavy burdening love that it consumed her very being. He set her body on fire with one glance of his amber eyes, melted her with the nearness of his body… made her legs go weak with a simple kiss…

Everything about him… she wanted everything about him. His gruff attitude, his sly smiles. His rough hands. Gods, she wanted those rough hands to hold her one more time.

No, it wouldn't be that kind of love with Jiro. But that didn't mean that it wouldn't be sweet; wouldn't be enjoyable.

But maybe…maybe that is better. She had been so devastated after she left Inuyasha, it was as if a piece of her soul, of her life had been pulled away and left in the feudal era. Truthfully, it had.

And Jiro… Jiro had been the one to bring her out of it.

Kagome stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. She picked up the necklace containing her jewel shard in her hand.

`If I do decide to date Jiro, I would have to stop going. Maybe I haven't been able to move on because a part of me is still stuck in the past…

Is it okay to be with Jiro, even if Inuyasha is still on my mind? Is it okay to be with him when I still love Inuyasha?

I need to talk to Sango. I need to figure out what to do. I can't wait until the new moon.

I… I have to say goodbye to Inuyasha. How we ended things… I don't want my last memory to be him sealed away in Kaedes hut. I want to see him smile. I want to hear him say that hes happy, that I did the right thing. I need to hear that. I can't go forward with my life unless I see him once more.'