InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ One Step Forward Or Two Steps Back? ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Once more, I do not own Inuyasha.

Author Note: I'm glad everyone liked chapter 6. I was a little worried...

Chapter 7: One Step Forward Or Two Steps Back?

Mirouku filled Sesshoumaru in on what Taki had told them about the village. Sango and Shippou had already gone to tell Taki that Kagome had decided to help and were now walking beside the young miko. They were all worried about Kagome, but they were determined to keep her safe. They had no idea how weak she would be after she did what she could to help the village. They didn't know how much power it was going to take from her, but they were going to make sure it did not cost her, her life.

Sesshoumaru stared at the back of Kagome's head while he listened to Mirouku. He understood that whatever the miko had to do it was going to be the biggest job she'd ever done so far. He wondered if she had figured out how to actually go about doing it. He was worried for her and he didn't understand why.

Kagome could feel his eyes on her. She wondered what he was thinking. `Probably that she was an idiot for doing this knowing it was a trap', she thought ruefully to herself and sighed. She knew he was probably right, but she couldn't let them keep living this way. Only thing was; she didn't exactly know how to go about doing that. Kagome sighed again and looked around her. `Its like they're living in an invisible bubble', she said to herself in thought. Then Kagome went still and snapped he head up! `Oh my... Kami-sama!

They'd all seen Kagome stop and go still, but they'd figured she was thinking and hadn't realized it, until they saw the look on her face when her head shot up. It was a mixture of shock, surprise, and glee.

"Kagome?" said Sango in question.

"Daijoubou desu ka Kagome-chan?" asked Shippou as he jumped to her shoulder and reached a hand out to pat her cheek.

Kagome looked over at her shoulder where the pat was coming from in a daze. She didn't hear anyone speak to her. She was still too much in her own head. She'd figured it out!!

"Shippou-chan? Nani?"

"Kagome what's wrong?" inquired Mirouku this time.

"Wrong? Nothing. I figured out how to help them, but it must wait `til morning. At the start of a new day."

"Why must it wait for morning? Why can't it be done now?" he continued in confusion.

"Look at them. They're going about their day and not even putting much thought into it. They do the same thing over and over and over everyday. They've done it so much they don't even realize it anymore. Except maybe, whatever they celebrated earlier, they do the same thing everyday. They're, literally, stuck in a rut. The only way I can stop it is to begin at the beginning, but I can't go back fifty plus years in time so I can't reverse it, but I can break it. To do that I have to begin where it starts. Which, for them, is every morning,"

"Aah, I get it," started Sango with a smile of understanding. "You can't go to the true beginning so your going to a different one, but no less of a beginning because of there everyday routine."

Kagome smiled at her friend. She was glad someone understood.

"How will you break it?" spoke Sesshoumaru for the first time.

Kagome turned to look at the Taiyoukai. He'd moved closer to her while she was explaining so she didn't notice him do it. She had to tilt her head back to look him in the eyes. Kagome sighed, she was really glad he was here. Then she frowned. `Why was she so happy to see him?'

"I... ah, I...," her mind was someplace else. Kagome closed her eyes, took a deep breath and tried again, "Imagine the spell as a force field or better yet, a dome that's been placed over the village like a bubble. I have to pop it and the best way to pop a bubble is at its center. I need to find the center of the village. There is where I will need to focus my energy, all of it, to break the spell."

"Does this mean we're staying here overnight?" asked Inuyasha irritably.

"Not in the village. We're too susceptible in our sleeps. Staying here would be dangerous."

They all looked worried at that and agreed they'd stay in the forest to the right of the village. Which was good for Kagome since she had to make sure she was at the center of the village right before sunrise. Kagome went to find Taki so she could show her where the center of the village was. The rest went to go scope out the rest of the village while there was still some daylight left. They had a feeling that once Kagome brought down the spell Kagura and her demons would not be too far behind. So, they all seperated and agreed to meet back in that very same spot right before nightfall. As for Sesshoumaru, he followed behind Kagome. He wasn't letting her out of his sight.

"You don't have to follow me," she told him. She would not admit she wanted him with her. She didn't understand it, but she felt safer with him there. She almost laughed out loud at that. `She felt safe with Sesshoumaru, who'd ever have imagined this day would come?!'

"Friends," he said to her.

Kagome turned to look at him.

`How come when you say that it sounds like a warning?" she asked with a frown.

He looked at her face and took in all her features from her brown eyes, her narrow cheeks, and her full mouth then he settled back on her eyes before he spoke.

"It is."

Kagome's eyes widened at those two little words. She was confused and shocked. His face didn't even change when he said. She'd seen his eyes roam her face, but that was all the movement she saw. She starred at him for a moment before she found her voice to speak her thoughts.

"A warning for me?"

Sesshoumaru locked his amber gaze with her brown one and stepped closer to her. He watched her tilt her head back to keep eye contact with him; her hair streaming down her back.

"No."

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Taki had taken them to a large oak tree that she told them marked the center of the village. Sesshoumaru had then risen up high in the sky to confirm what the older miko had said. From high above the village looked like a huge circle so the center was not hard to spot. In fact it looked as if the village had been built around the large oak tree. When Sesshoumaru had descended he'd asked Taki why the village appeared that way.

"You are right. The village was built around that tree. An old legend tells of a spirit or demon being trapped within that tree. So no one dares remove it in fear that the entity would be let out. I have never sensed any evil here, so I figure it may have once been a simple tale that had changed and become distorted with the passing time. The truth about this tree, I fear, will never be known again."

Kagome nodded at that. She also didn't feel any evil near the tree. Kagome noticed that sun was beginning to set and said her goodnights to Taki. Not realizing she was doing it, Kagome reached out and took Sesshoumaru's hand in hers. They had to hurry to meet the rest of their group and get out of the village. As Kagome started walking she pulled Sesshoumaru along behind her.

Sesshoumaru looked down at her fingers locked around his own. He was getting that feeling in his stomach again and this time he knew it wasn't from something he ate. He could feel the heat from her hand and felt a tingle go up his arm. Sesshoumaru tensed. `What is this feeling she causes in me?' he asked himself. He didn't like being confused. It annoyed him, but he seemed to be experiencing it a lot around her.

Out of curiosity Sesshoumaru curled his own fingers around Kagome's. He went still when he felt a similar tingle to the one he felt a moment ago shoot up his arm and down his spine, yet stronger. It made him feel like sighing. He wondered about that.

Kagome came to a stop when he did. She had no choice; she didn't have the strength to drag him without his cooperation. She had no idea how her hand got into his, but she smiled to herself about it. She liked having her hand held by his. She turned to look at him in question.

"Sesshoumaru?"

At the sound of her voice Sesshoumaru lifted his eyes from their entwined hands to look into hers. He starred at her in wonder. `What was it about her?'

Kagome tilted her head to the side in thought as she looked up into his amber eyes. She didn't understand what she was seeing, but it was making her feel strange. Kagome blushed and lowered her eyes to there hands.

"You're squeezing my hand," she whispered and felt her face heat up even more.

She felt his hand loosen from around hers and she tighten hers thinking he was about to let her go. Kagome didn't want him to let her go.

Sesshoumaru's eyes soften as he starred at Kagome's bent head. He did not understand these feelings, but he could sense the same emotions running through her.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" a loud voice interrupted.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome turned their heads towards the voice at the same time.

Inuyasha did not like what he was seeing. He'd watched them starring at their joined hands and at each other. He didn't like the way Kagome was looking at Sesshoumaru or him at her. `She's falling for him?' he said to himself in shock and hurt. `Did she ever really love me?'

Kagome looked at Inuyasha in his amber eyes. `Eyes just like Sesshoumaru's', she thought to herself. She didn't see what he was so angry about.

"What's wrong with you Inuyasha?" she asked pleasantly.

After a moment he shock his head in answer and started to walk pass them. He stopped when he was level with them to look at Sesshoumaru. He couldn't read anything in his face or eyes. `No surprise there', he thought and gave his brother a dark look.

"We should be going don't you think?" he said returning his eyes to Kagome. Then he continued to walk on.

Kagome watched after him as he joined Sango, Mirouku, and the rest; then frowned. She wondered what was bothering Inuyasha. She turned to look at Sesshoumaru, but he didn't look like he even cared to know.

"Come on. Lets go," she said pulling him along again. She didn't realize it at the time, but she'd never let go of his hand.

Sesshoumaru followed blindly behind her, amerced in his own thoughts. He didn't like to see her worrying about Inuyasha. For some reason it made him go cold inside and it made him angry. He didn't understand why he cared... but he did. `Was she still in love with the hanyou?' he asked himself. He wondered why that mattered.

They joined the rest and headed out of the village towards the forest just as the sun was setting. Inuyasha was walking ahead of them by himself. Kagome was starring at Inuyasha not noticing that she had the attention of a different demon with amber eyes.

Mirouku, Sango, Shippou and Kirara watched the others. They saw what was happening and wondered if the others had any idea: Kagome was falling in love with Sesshoumaru and they had a feeling the Taiyoukai was falling in love with her, though they didn't think he knew it yet.... but the problem was: Inuyasha was seeing it too.

*********************************************

Thirty minutes later in the forest not far from the village the friends set up camp. Kagome once again passed out blankets to both Sango and Mirouku. Inuyasha had disappeared the moment they made camp and Sesshoumaru had left saying he'd be back. Kagome figured he'd gone to check on Rin and Jaken. After they had themselves settled Sango and Kagome went off to the hot spring they'd found when looking for a spot to sleep in for the night. The nearby spring was the whole reason they'd chosen the spot to sleep in.

Sango waited `til they were both settled in the water before asking her questions. She watched her friend sigh in content and lean back against a huge rock on the side of the spring.

"Kagome," she began and waited for the young miko to open her eyes and look at her. "What's going on between you and Sesshoumaru?"

"Nani?" asked Kagome; her eyes widening in surprise.

"Don't try to hide it Kagome. I've seen the way you look at him?"

"Look at him how?"

"You look at him with that look in your eye," Sango whispered. She looked down at the surface of the water before she continued, "You look at him the way you say I look at Mirouku."

"Nooo..." Kagome's face went pale at her friend's words. `Sango looks at Mirouku with love shining in her eyes. I couldn't be... could I?" she asked herself in awe. She felt her heart flip with her jumbled thoughts. "Sango I can't.... you don't think I could.... could I?"

Sango tilted her head at her friend's confusion. She didn't know what Kagome was trying to ask her.

"Kagome are you in love with Sesshoumaru?"

Kagome felt her heart flip again at hearing her thoughts spoken aloud by her friend. She was confused. Kagome sighed then replied, "I don't know. How could I be so soon after Inuyasha?"

Sango saw Kagome's distress and wished she could help.

"I remember my okaasan once telling me when I was a little girl that `you can't place a time on love'. She said that `true love will come to you when it wants to'. She also told me that `it's usually when you're not looking for it and don't want it'.

"Do you think she was right Sango?" asked Kagome.

"I don't know. Maybe. All I know is three things. One, that I do love Mirouku," she blushed a pretty pink at that and was thankful it was dark and her blush couldn't be seen. "Two, that love came to me when I least expected and damn sure wasn't looking for it. And three... I've never seen you look at Inuyasha the way you look at Sesshoumaru."

Kagome sucked in her breath and felt the blood drain from her face. 'Was she in love with Sesshoumaru?' she asked herself. She'd never have imagined it in a million years, but she did have feeling for him. She just wasn't sure what the feelings were. She did know one thing though; she never remembered feeling this way about Inuyasha or this confused.

Kagome stood up in a daze, her mind still on her own thought and got out of the hot spring. She proceeded to put on her sleeping clothes, which consisted of a matching pair of pants and a tank top in a pale pink color. The top had a huge blue flower on it just under her left breast and to the side. It was her favorite pair of pajamas.

Sango followed her friend out of the hot spring and also put on her sleep clothes, which were similar in style to Kagome's. Hers were lavender with a green flower. They were a gift from Kagome for her birthday last year. When she finished changing she starred at her friend, who in turn was starring off into space; deep in thought.

"Kagome?' she whispered

Kagome turned her head to look at the taijiya and gave a wan smile in response.

"You ready to go back now?"

Kagome thought about this and decided she wasn't. She needed time alone to think and she wasn't going to get it at the camp.

"No. You go ahead Sango. I'll be there in a minute." Kagome turned her gaze back to the night sky.

Sango waited a few seconds then did as her friend asked. She understood that the miko wanted to be alone. She didn't blame her. She'd want some private time too, if it were herself. `To be in love with Sesshoumaru' she figured that needed some getting use to. She headed back to the camp and gave her friend the time to herself she wanted.

Kagome's alone time was short lived though, because no sooner than Sango left, Kagome felt another presence behind her. She recognized it instantly. He'd been coming to see her at night for sometime now. She was glad he was here again. Even if he was the source of her confusion, which the reason she wanted to be alone. Not alone from him though.

"Your back sooner then I thought," she said, not turning to face him.

She sensed him move forward and wasn't surprised to see him in her side vision.

"I will not leave you."

Kagome turned to him; startled. "Why?"

"Friends," he replied; face impassive.

"One of these days you are going to explain to me your meaning of that word," she smiled at him and continued, "Somehow I get the feeling mine and yours differ greatly."

He looked at her and saw the sparkle in her eyes. He saw her give him one of those bright smiles of hers and felt his heart jump again. "What is she doing to me?" he asked himself in wonder. He was getting annoyed with it and frowned.

He looked at her lips as she was still smiling. He saw that her lips were full and looked to be soft. `I wonder...' he thought to himself and closed the gap between them. He watched her eyes widen when he brought his hand to her cheek. He slid his fingers over the smooth skin of her face down to her chin and lifted it more, tilting her face upwards.

Kagome watched him lean down, eyes already wide with nervous anticipation. `He was going to kiss her!' she thought and trembled slightly. She hadn't realized it, but now that he was going to do it, she wanted him to. She wanted to know what it would feel like.

Kagome went stone still at the first feather light touch of his lips to hers. Then she felt the wave of sensation go through her and sighed.

Sesshoumaru felt her breath sigh across his lips and pressed them firmer against his. He parted his lips and licked his tongue slowly across her bottom lip to taste the fullness of it.

Kagome shuttered when she felt his tongue rub across her lip and sucked in her breath in shock. Sesshoumaru, taking full advantage of her reaction, dipped his tongue inside her mouth and felt her shake and fall against him. Kagome's knees gave out at the feel of his tongue inside her mouth. She'd heard of kisses like this, with mouths open, but she'd never experienced it. She wasn't sure if she liked it. She felt something soft slide around her waist and was thankful for the support. Anymore shocking moves from him and she'd be at his feet. Her legs were already having trouble supporting her.

Sesshoumaru tried to go further inside her mouth. He wanted to know more. She was so warm and soft, the need to know more was killing him. He pull his tongue back and traced her top lip and then rubbed his lips against hers trying to coax her to open her mouth more. He felt her tremble again and tightened his tail around her waist pulling her body fully against his. He slid his hand around to the back of her neck under the heavy fall of her hair; tilting her head farther back. Kagome not realizing it wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling her curves tighter against the hardness of his body and sighed with pleasure.

Sesshoumaru felt her breath whisper across his sensitized lips and couldn't take it anymore. He whispered against her mouth in desperation, "Open Kagome." Kagome heard the plea in his voice and opened her eyes and her mouth. She didn't remember closing either.

Sesshoumaru sighed in triumph and dipped his tongue inside once more to mate with hers. Kagome jumped at the contact and tried to pull away, but he held on to the back of her neck and wouldn't let her. Sesshoumaru proceeded to explore the inner recesses of her mouth rubbing her tongue with his own. Trying to coax her to do the same. Kagome, understanding, began to move her tongue against his, tentatively at first, then with more enthusiasm as she felt the tingles going up and down her spine. Kagome felt her nipples harden and rubbed herself against his chest to ease the ache in them. She sighed at the sensation. Sesshoumaru kept kissing her until he had to let her and himself breathe or die. He pulled back and rubbed his lips against hers once more. He licked her swollen bottom lip before pulling back and looking her in the eyes.

Sesshoumaru saw the softness there and stilled. `What was he doing' he thought to himself. `She's a ningen'. Though he had to admit to himself he didn't seem to care when it came to her. He wondered about that and frowned. He dropped his hand from the back of her neck, but did not remove his tail from her waist. He didn't think she was ready to stand on her own yet.

Kagome wanted to ask him why he kissed her, but didn't think she could stand the answer right now. Not when he was looking at her with that frown on his face. So, she asked him another question instead. One she thought was safer.

"Why are you helping me?"

Not thinking, Sesshoumaru told her the truth.

"I owe you/"

"Owe me? For what?" she asked in confusion.

Realizing what he'd just said Sesshoumaru frown harder. He didn't mean to tell her that, but she'd asked when his mind was else where. He shrugged and answered her, "You didn't know it, but you saved my life when we defeated Naraku. Your arrow had come through the wall and hit Goshinki when he was trying to attack me from a third side. I was occupied with Naraku and a minion of his."

"That's it? That's why you've been... hanging around?" she asked; trying to hide the hurt. She didn't know why it hurt so much.

Sesshoumaru saw the hurt in her eyes. He could feel it course through her body. The pain. He didn't like it. He unwrapped his tail and turned away from her.

"There can be no other reason," he replied with a stony face.

Something in his eyes gave Kagome hope. She'd only glimpsed it before he turned away, but she still had hope. Hope for what she didn't know. Hope for them maybe? That didn't matter now though, because Kagome's hurt gave way to anger.

"You bastard..." she whispered at his back; her voice dripping with venom. "You come here and kiss me, like that and then tell me it's all because you owe me!!"

Kagome huffed and watched him turn back to look at her. She saw in his eyes he was angry. She didn't care; she was seeing red right now and she wasn't finished yelling.

"Well you know what? Why don't you go payback someone else?? Just like you said, I didn't know I did it, so why don't we just call it a fluke and call it a day!!"

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him and seethed some more then added, "Baka! If I'd have known, I wouldn't have done it!" That was a bold face lie, but she was mad and was trying to hurt him like he'd just hurt her. Kagome spun on her feet and stalked away to stand beside a nearby tree. She tensed when she heard his soft, spoken voice.

"You will pay for your words Kagome."

Kagome turned her head to look at him. She could sense the pain she'd caused. He was too angry to try and hide it. She doubted he even knew he was feeling it. Kagome stilled when she felt a tear slide down her face, then another and another. Before she knew she out blown crying. Kagome hid her face in her hands and with her back to the tree, slid down to the ground. When she looked up a moment later he was no where in sight.

**************************************

Sesshoumaru came back to the spring an hour later and spotted her. She was asleep under the tree. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. She was lying on her side with her back to the tree. Her knees were pulled to her chest in the fetal position. Her hair was blocking her face from his view.

Sesshoumaru reached out and moved her hair out of his way. He saw the streaks on her face and figured she'd cried herself to sleep. He didn't like that he'd hurt her, but she surprised him. He didn't understand his feelings for her and so he didn't like being questioned.

He gathered her up using his arm and his tail. He sat her on his lap and tucked her head up under his chin. Then he wrapped his arm and tail around her to keep her warm.

"I told you to save your tears for something important," he whispered to the sleeping miko.

A moment later Sesshoumaru went still when he heard the small voice coming from the vicinity under his chin.

"I did."