InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ Where Do We Go From Here? ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: The usual. I do not own Inuyasha.

Author Note. Sorry, I took so long to update everyone... its difficult writing two stories at once. *Sigh* You get ideas, or brainstorms, then you have to remember which story its for... especially when the idea could fit in both stories. ^_^ There's a moral here... don't start 2 stories so close together!! Lol

Chapter 4: Where Do We Go From Here?

Inuyasha watched Kagome return to camp and settle down with the rest of the group to sleep. He watched her get settled in her sleeping bag beside the kitsune and sighed.

He'd just been contemplating going to find her when he'd smelled her scent coming toward the camp. He was relieved he didn't have to go find her. He wasn't ready to face her yet. `What you and Kikyo had wasn't love,' it kept resounding in his head. All he could hear was her voice saying those damning words. He remembered everything she'd said up to the point where she cried, kissed his cheek, and run off, but out of all of it, that part stayed with him.

He didn't know what pissed him off, that she said it, or that she said it. The fact that she might be right didn't even bother him. He knew she wasn't. He had a feeling the rest of them, their friends, thought she was. He knew they had heard at least some of what Kagome had said to him and he wasn't stupid enough to believe they hadn't formed their own opinion. All of them, including the fire neko and the kitsune, he was sure.

Inuyasha sighed to himself and looked up at the night sky. She couldn't be right, he thought to himself. She wasn't there, fifty-two years and some months ago, when he'd been in love with Kikyo and her with him. `She'd never been in love before. So how can she tell me how love is?' he said to himself with a sniff... then he went still and lost his train of thought completely.

Inuyasha looked around for the source of the scent he just smelled on the wind. It was coming from the direction Kagome had come from. `Sesshoumaru', he said to himself. `Where are you?' he asked in his head as he looked around. He went still again when amber eyes met amber eyes.

Sesshoumaru starred up at his brother from the ground and locked gazes with him. He thought his younger brother was a fool, but wasn't quite sure why he thought so. He knew his brother was ignorant, rash, and, a lot of the times, acted without thought, but he thought he was just plain stupid to choose to die for the clay miko. Not that his brother's decision mattered, he thought to himself. `Inuyasha. You will die by my hand and no others,' he said to himself as he held his brothers gaze.

Sesshoumaru stayed that way for a moment longer before turning and walking away. He needed to return to Rin and Jaken. He knew the child would be giving his retainer fits by now and refusing to sleep.

Inuyasha watched his brother walk away and wondered what that look he saw in his eyes meant. He also wondered if Kagome had run off to be with Sesshoumaru. He still hadn't quite gotten rid of the picture of her in Sesshoumaru's arm. Inuyasha sat back down on the fat branch and leaned back against the tree to rest.

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Kagome yawned and stretched as she woke up the next morning. She turned over and looked up at the bright morning sky. She felt Shippou follow her to curl up against her side again. She giggled and rubbed the top of his head.

"Wake up sleepy head. Its morning."

Kagome watched the young kitsune's ears twitch at the sound of her voice. She watched him stretch and turn over on to his back. Kagome giggled again and got up to gather her things and go to the hot spring.

"Hey Kagome, wait for me. I'll come with you."

Kagome turned to her friend and smiled welcomingly.

"Alright Sango. I'll wait."

Kagome watched the taijiya get up, gather her change of clothes, and join Kagome. Then they both set off for the near by hot spring.

Mirouku and Inuyasha watched the two women leave from their seperate places. Mirouku turned his head to look up in the tree where he knew the hanyou was at, and locked eyes with him. In silent agreement, neither got up to go spy on the women this morning. It did not pass their notice that both girls made a point of not looking up in the tree.

***At the hot spring***

Sango sighed in content as she lowered herself into the spring opposite Kagome. She watched her friend rub the sweet smelling soap into her skin with a sigh. She could see the strain in her friend's eyes. Sango doubted the miko got much sleep last night. She herself had fallen asleep waiting on Kagome to come back, so she knew it must have been late when she returned.

"Kagome?"

Kagome opened her eyes to look at her friends dark brown ones. They both had changed in the last two years. While Sango's body had already been curvy, her own had grown so as the time passed. Both their faces had become a bit narrower, but Kagome had been the one to do the most changing. For instance, they stood eye to eye now and her hair hung passed her waist in thick waves. Her friend was also much happier now. Kagome wasn't sure if that was due to whatever was going on between her and Mirouku or the fact that the older girl had her brother, Kohaku, restored to her.

"Hai, Sango?" she responded to her friend with a smile.

"Is everything alright?"

Kagome wasn't stupid she knew what her friend was asking her. Kagome sighed and gave her friend a serious look. She figured she should talk to someone, since she couldn't go to her mother and the other girl was a very good choice.

"How much did you hear?"

Kagome watched her friends face heat with embarassment. She watched the other girl lower her gaze to the water in a false sense of not knowing. Kagome wasn't fooled for a minute; she knew the girl had heard she just didn't know how much.

"How much Sango?" she smiled.

"Some," Sango sighed in defeat and continued, " We mostly only saw your faces. We saw you cry and run away. I wanted to go after you, but figured you'd want to be alone."

`We??', Kagome thought. `My goodness, did the whole camp know what happened between Inuyasha and her', she asked herself in disbelief. Kagome sighed at the thought that everyone was watching, even Sesshoumaru.

"I'm fine Sango."

"What happened between you two?"

"I...," Kagome lowered her head and looked down at the water and starred at her own reflection before finishing, " I let him go."

"I thought as much," whispered Sango.

"Do you think I was wrong Sango?"

"No." Sango sighed in honesty. "If he couldn't decide between you and someone dead then he didn't love you enough. You shouldn't let him hurt you and make you cry."

"That's funny, " Kagome began with a wan smile, "Sesshoumaru said something similar last night."

"Nani? When did you see Sesshoumaru?"

"Last night after I ran off. He found me by the river. He told me to save my tears for something important. Apparently he also overheard my conversation with Inuyasha." She said with a twist to her lips.

`Wow, Sesshoumaru was there too,' said Sango to herself in surprise. She'd had no idea he was there. She, a taijiya, did not even sense the taiyoukai. She wondered why he stayed and listened. She knew why her and the others listened: Inuyasha and Kagome were their friends and they were worried about them, but what was the taiyoukai's excuse... and why did he follow Kagome to the river? Which she knew he had to have done. `Why did the taiyoukai talk to Kagome,' she wondered. And what did it mean, if anything?

Sango looked up at Kagome and was glad her friend wasn't crying. She knew if this were yesterday, this talk alone would have had her friend in tears. Now she saw only sadness. Perhaps there was hope for Kagome, but was that hope Sesshoumaru?

"I never thought I'd say this, but Sesshoumaru is right. Inuyasha doesn't deserve your tears. Not over this," said Sango to her friend.

"Hm."

"I heard some of what you said about love... and you're right. Maybe Inuyasha will learn this with time." Sango laughed ruefully, rolled her eyes, and added, "I probably won't live to see it, but I hold hope."

They both laughed at that. Then Kagome looked at her friend, eyes sparkling with mischief. Sango tensed at that look, she knew her friend was up to something.

"Speaking of love Sango..."

Sango went still and held her breath.

"... What's going on between you and Mirouku?" Kagome wiggled her eyebrows at her friend. Then she out-right laughed in the other girl's face when she saw her friend's face turn bright red.

"It's not funny Kagome!!" screamed Sango in embarrassment.

" I know, I know. I'm sorry," she began with a big smile. Taking a deep breath she added, " You had to see your face. I never saw you get so red. I'm sorry. I'm okay now."

Kagome wiped her face with her hands and took another breath.

"But really, what's going on between you two?"

Sango sighed and stood up to get out of the water. Kagome followed quietly, all ears.

"I'm not sure really. We spend more time together and he kisses me and holds my hand and generally makes me feel good.... should I be telling you this now?"

Kagome stopped in getting dress to look at her in shock.

"Huh? Of, course!! Why not me!?! Who else would you tell if not me!?"

"Kagome." Sango sighed and threw her hands up in surrender. She started dressing again when her friend stopped looking at her with that look of horror on her face. "All I meant was, after all you've been through... and what happened yesterday, should I be telling you about my happiness."

Sango saw the shadow cross her friends face before Kagome gave her a bright smile.

"I may be hurting Sango, but I'm not blind. I've seen you guys... and besides I could use some happiness, don't you think? Now, spill," she finished with a mock forcefulness.

Sango starred at her for a moment. When she was sure her friend was being honest with her she nodded and continued.

"I think I might be falling for him, but I don't know how he feels."

Kagome thought this over before saying anything.

"Well don't ask me for advice, but I can tell you what I think."

Sango nodded for her to continue.

"Well, I think he might feel the same way about you. I've noticed he doesn't `grab' me anymore, at least not more than once a day. Not that I'm complaining, nor does he ask/offer every woman he comes across to "bear his child""

"Yes, but the curse is lifted. He doesn't have to ask/offer that anymore."

"Yes, well that's true, but I don't think Mirouku did it just because of the curse. I think a part of him got a kind of sick pleasure out of it, " she giggled.

"I thought so too," Sango laughed with her.

"And besides he stopped asking long before we defeated Naraku causing the curse to lift."

Kagome watched her friend's eyes widen in shock. She could tell the other girl was thinking it over.

"Do you really think he... feels the same Kagome?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. I do," answered Kagome, then inquired, "Are you going to ask him?"

"I don't know," Sango sighed. `I was sort of thinking I'd wait `til he said something first."

Kagome nodded at that. She was not about to give any advice. She was the last person who should be giving love advice, she thought ruefully.

They both gathered up their stuff after they finished dressing. Sango was in her pink and green kimono and Kagome put on a pair of hip-hugger jeans and, a black shirt with long wide sleeves. They decided to head back to camp then. Kagome figured the guys would want breakfast and Sango wanted to check on Kirara. So, they set off.

Kagome figured she couldn't avoid Inuyasha forever.

****At the campsite****

Inuyasha jumped down from his perch in the huge oak tree.

Mirouku watched the hanyou and wondered what he was thinking. He was hoping Inuyasha would change his mind about Kikyo after a nights sleep, but he didn't think he had. Not with that stubborn look on his face. He watched Inuyasha sit down on the ground, arms and legs folded. Mirouku figured that meant he'd have to be the one to bring it up then. He sighed and walked over to Inuyasha. Then he knocked the hanyou in the head with his staff.

"WHAT THE HELL YOU DO THAT FOR?!!" Inuyasha yelled and jumped to his feet in anger.

Mirouku just shut his eyes, folded his arms, and ignored his outburst.

"I heard your conversation with Kagome yesterday and I must say she is right. No matter how much you want to deny it in your head Inuyasha. You may have loved Kikyo, I cannot say otherwise, but I can promise that that dead miko did not love you. Not if she wanted to change you," he said reasonably then snorted as he added, "She didn't even know you."

Inuyasha glared at him.

"You yourself, told me that you never felt the kind of peace with Kikyo that you feel with Kagome. So accept... not that matters, I guess. Its already to late to make much difference with Kagome, but you could save yourself," Mirouku said with a heavy sigh.

"Shut up Mirouku."

Inuyasha tensed when he smelled the familiar, yet unwelcome scent of his brother. He and Mirouku turned to face the newcomer.

"What do you want?" said Inuyasha harshly.

Sesshoumaru starred at his brother with complete calmness. He didn't even bother to look at the houshi.

"Where is the miko?"

"Why?"

"Are you going to tell me what I want to know?"

Inuyasha starred at his brother in anger, but did not even bother to give him an answer. He figured his silence was just as good an answer.

Sesshoumaru starred back at Inuyasha. Amber to amber. He did not need Inuyasha to tell him where Kagome was; he could smell her scent coming towards them. He just wanted to see his brother's reaction. It amused him to see the hanyou so angry. It was really disgusting. His brother was still set on going with the dead miko. `Too bad he wasn't going to get the chance', he said to himself. After he repaid his debt, then he would take care of the hanyou... once and for all.

"Sesshoumaru."

All three men turned at the sound of the voice. They all starred at Sango and Kagome, who in turn, was starring at the taiyoukai in shock.