InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ All But One ❯ Contemplation of Kagome and Naraku ( Chapter 13 )

All But One

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Chapter 13: Contemplation of Kagome and Naraku

Kagome woke to the feeling of being kissed. For a moment she thought it must have been Fuji, but then she felt the lean, very flat chest, and the crinkly long hair, and knew it to be Naraku.

She still didn't like him much, but she had to admit that he was a very… experienced lover. If he started acting more like a real person instead of a confusing bunch of masks, or if her family approved… She could bear a repeat of last night. Hell, she would probably enjoy it.

Naraku kissed her again, and she responded lightly, opening her eyes.

"It's 7:00," he said, with a gentle air she hadn't seen him have before. "When is your first class?"

"When's yours?"

"I don't have class today. Lab got cancelled."

"Mmm." She stretched and had to admit, again, that he was very attractive. Even just the feel… But then, she was pretty inexperienced. Maybe it was like this all the time. "I have philosophy at 1:15, and then archery…"

"Do you have to go?"

"Kirara and Fuji will notice if I'm not there."

"Ah, the ever-caring Fuji," he said, running a hand along her side, not quite light enough to tickle. "What a pity."

"I like Fuji." She snuggled against him sleepily. His shoulder made a good pillow.

He chuckled, and pulled her more firmly against him. "Oh, so do I. She can just be… too much, at times."

"I guess."

His hand was playing around her waist, tracing designs on the small of her back and up her spine. It felt kind of tingly, but pleasant. "Sleepy?"

"Uh huh." She yawned and let him pull her closer yet again, so she was almost lying on top of him, his arm about her waist, holding her loosely.

It wasn't like Sesshoumaru, who had held her as she imagined a beloved would, or like Fuji, who had curled around her and encompassed her with warmth. But then, that was what she wanted, wasn't it? To be held loosely, free to leave if she wished, an embrace that had the appearance but not the binding of connection. Impermanent, easily broken. She wanted to do her duty to her family and get it over with, so she could be herself. Naraku would not force her to a role she didn't want. At least, she hoped not.

She shivered, and felt him draw the blankets up around them in response before stroking her hair, petting it, treating her - she realized in a flash of insight - like a very large and humanoid cat.

Cats were independent creatures.

Good.

She fell asleep, content.

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She showered during lunch, when everyone else was gone from the hall. The hot water was soothing, but at the same time highlighted tender spots on her neck and back, still a little red. Naraku had been very reluctant to let her go. She could still feel his hands, along her sides and on the insides of her thighs, and she was sore. Very sore, but she could walk without too much of a limp. But she'd have to put on her thicker bra, since her nipples couldn't seem to relax.

She felt very well loved.

No, that was wrong. Not loved. There was no love between Kagome and Naraku. Sex, yes, desire, definitely, especially on his side, a child, possibly, but no love.

It felt different, she reflected, when there was no condom. A little rougher, maybe. Or maybe that was just him, she didn't know.

She just hoped that Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Fuji would understand.

At that, she paused, disturbed. Yes, she did hope that, but…

When had those three become her world?

Inuyasha, her protector, Sesshoumaru and Fuji, her… her… She felt something clench below her stomach, and suddenly felt empty.

Oh, gods above and abounding, how she hoped they'd forgive her.

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Midterms came and went.

About a week or so after Renkotsu had attacked Fuji's door in an attempt to get at her, the American came back from the mailroom with several packages. Kagome shook her head internally: here she was flaunting one of the things that made people dislike her. It was foolish, and…

Fuji dropped one of the boxes into her hands. "Here, hold this for a bit." She turned and unlocked her door, disappearing into her room for a moment before returning with a pair of scissors. She took the package back and plopped down in the middle of the hall to open the boxes.

"What's in there?"

"I sent home for some protective gear. Well, I consider it protective gear - it's nothing official."

"Oh?"

"Yeah." She pulled out something stiff, black (of course), and vaguely v-shaped, with trailing ends. "For example: this bodice-corset-thing isn't too restrictive and it's mostly boning, so if someone tries to hit me or grab me, it won't be so easy." A pair of stiff tubes joined the corset. "And these are just a longer version of my wrist guards for rollerblading."

"And you just had this stuff?"

"Well, they let me buy some stuff too. That's in the smaller boxes. But yeah: I do costuming. Inuyasha has some stuff as well, and we've agreed to start wearing it more often while sentiments are nasty."

The entire collection consisted of the corset, the guards, which extended to cover the elbows as well, a pair of reinforced gloves, a pair of (high heeled) laced boots with steel toes and knee guards, a heavy leather trench coat, a couple pairs of legwarmers and tights, and a spiked collar. Fuji looked disappointedly at the boxes.

"What?"

"They forgot something."

"Maybe it's in there?" She pointed at a small package that Fuji had forgotten.

"Oh! Yes, probably. Thanks, darling."

Kagome blinked, then flushed, feeling guilty.

Fuji didn't notice. She was busy opening the last box. Then she grinned and drew out what looked like several metal fingers.

"They're rings," she said, turning one around so Kagome could see. "I've got one for every finger of my right hand, and a glove modified into something like armor to go with them. It was for a costume, where the lady's right arm was a metal prosthesis. And… yes!"

It was - oh, no, there were two things - they were a skirted chain mail belt and a chain mail collar-bra combination.

"Why do you have that?"

"You need a reason to have chain mail?"

"Usually, yes!"

"Um. It was cool, it fit, and I had the money?"

Kagome slapped her forehead.

"Chain mail?" Hiten said, coming to the doorway. He whistled when he saw it. "Nice."

"Inuyasha has a sleeveless shirt made of it."

"He does?" Kagome and Hiten said together.

"Cool," Hiten said.

"Why?" Kagome asked.

Fuji looked at her strangely. "Didn't Inuyasha tell you about it? Science fiction conventions."[1]

"I sort of remember… Why do you go to them again?"

"My dad writes it."

"Oh. You must be pretty rich, then."

"No, the average writer makes almost nothing. Dad could just barely live off what he makes, alone. Instead, my mother is the one who actually supports the family, and the writer money goes to the bank to generate interest. That itself has been saved up since I was born, and it's part of what's paying my tuition."

"Whatever," Hiten said. "I like the chain mail, but you should probably put stuff away. It's almost five."

"Dinner!" Fuji bounced up, dashed into her room to put everything away and check her clock (to make sure that Hiten wasn't having her on) and bounded down the hall, caroling. "Dinner, dinner, dinner!"

"Maybe we should get a bell," Kagome said.

"She has one," Hiten told her. "But she was threatened with bodily harm if she used it too much."

"Oh well."

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[1] see chapter 2

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Later that night, Kirara moved down the hall, knocking on doors, and informing everyone that there would be "something going on later tonight, you'll probably want to either hide or watch," and refused to say anything more. Maybe half an hour later, Jakotsu came by and asked to stay in Kagome and Sango's room until the something interesting happened, because Fuji was being antisocial.

"No, she and Sesshoumaru are talking to the people at Wagamama, I think," Sango said. "Something about rooms."

"That reminds me: I applied to live in English section next year. Do you know when they announce who gets in?" Kagome asked.

"Johji's my neighbor, and he's applying to German," Jak said. "The forms aren't even due yet, so it's probably a couple more weeks. You already turned yours in?"

"Yeah. I really want to get in."

"Why?" Sango asked, puzzled. "You're family maintains a shrine."

Kagome gave her a cold look. "And what does that have to do with my life?"

There was a pause.

"Brr," Jak said at last. "You sure know how to drop the room temperature, Kagome."

"Really," Sango agreed. "I'd never have the courage to go against family traditions like that. Go you!"

"Thanks…"

"So." Sango settled back on her bed for a good gossip session. "What I want to know is: why are Fuji and Sesshoumaru talking to the people there now?"

"We don't know they are," Jak reminded her. "I think she's just barricaded in her room with music blaring and keeping to herself. She seems the type."

"No, Inuyasha said she was out when Kirara asked him," Kagome said. "She might be at Wagamama."

The door to the outside banged open, and Jakotsu jumped up, grinning. "Time!"

"Eh--?"

"Whoooooooooooo!" Enishi and Jei ran by, down the hallway. They were screaming and laughing and whooping. They were also stark naked.

"I'm blind!" Hiten bellowed from his and Inuyasha's room.

"Sucks to be you!" Enishi called back.

"Yeek!"

"Hi, Ayumi!" they heard from the other end of the hall, another squeal, and then doors banging again as the pair made their way out.

Silence reigned.

Kagome slapped her forehead.

"What was that?" Sango said more than asked.

"The something interesting." Jak grinned.

"Well, at least…" Kagome drew her hand down, over her face, before she let it fall. "Um. That is. White hair like that shouldn't be natural."

"Nope."

"But apparently it is."

"Uh huh." Jak was still grinning.

"And they're not related?"

"Not so far as I know. Wonder if Sesshoumaru looks like that?"

"He's a platinum blond."

"Uh huh." Jak finally turned from staring after the two, her expression arch. "And you would know… how?"

Kagome blushed and looked at the floor.

"I see."

"I really did not need to see that," Sango said.

"See what?" Kagome asked.

"Them! Nakedness! Running down the hall!"

"I'm sure Hiten agrees with you. Why don't you go commiserate with him?" Jak patted her on the back.

"What if they come back?"

"I asked Jei's roommate, Ran, about it earlier today. They won't be back."

"Okay."

Sango left the room shakily, and soon a laughing Inuyasha was booted out of his room and joined Kagome in hers.

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emelynooopee - Nope, it seems my humor is going to remain mostly vaguely Takahashi-esque. No sex scenes, no Sesshoumaru. Not this chapter.

LSIE - Naraku's dreams are too scary to write.

Arianna - why Naraku? Because I promised. But see, now Kagome feels bad, and since I got so many reviews reviling me for even thinking of making this Nar/Kag, there will be no more of that. Unless something completely unexpected happens that makes it all make sense.

There will also be no random babies. This is one of my pet peeves. Kagome took an MAP pill, which flushes out the egg even if it's fertilized, so unless it's Naraku's no baby. She will also not be engaging in unprotected sex later on, so no babies from there either. I'll deal with more reasons why two reviewers down the line.

SilentInquisition - Nyaa. I impersonate Kuroneko-sama, of course I'm bad!

hope13 - Sesshoumaru is, as I believe I've stated a couple times before, British (which means probably a mixture of Celtic, Italian, Germanic, and Scandinavian, possibly some French, if you want to get into the different conquerors and run rampant-ers way back when). Since Kagome needs her child to be full-blooded Japanese, she can't have his kid. Not yet, at least, and not in this story.

Groveling duly noted and appreciated.

Randomone - Here! I updated! Be happy!

The votes remain:
Hugely in Sesshoumaru's favor
Not quite so hugely in Fuji's favor, and
Irrelevantly in everyone else's favor, since they lost a while ago.

((Chapter 14 is been begun, but not finished - and my muse is suddenly Chibi Farf. Patience required and probable violence to follow.))