InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Another Opens... ❯ The Argument ( Chapter 22 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 22- The Argument


No, I do not own Inuyasha.


Recap: Kouga licked his wounds as Sesshomaru contemplated the problems he faced. Deciding to intervene in his packmate’s problems-he ordered Inuyasha and Kagome to wed. What happens now? Read on!


After the ceremony...a small private supper was held to congratulate them. Kagome and Inuyasha soon excused themselves. It was all too much-and they were both furious. Without so much as a chance to blink, Miroku and the rest had cornered them. They were married. It hadn’t helped that everyone else had looked damned smug and seemed to think they ought to be grateful. Kagome had wanted to growl. Thanks, guys...she’d figured on tackling this gently over the next few weeks! Not now, not like this.


But when Inuyasha escorted her to her rooms, intending to leave her there quietly...he saw what few belongings he had with him was already installed. Lanterns were already lit inside, casting their soft light though colorful shades in the cozy rooms. He looked around as she shut the door behind them. Bastard. Sesshomaru was thorough, he’d give him that. They were married, so his place was here now.


With a grimace, Inuyasha realized he should have known-would have if he’d been thinking. He might be new to packlife, but he did know how things worked among the nobility, well, mortal nobility, anyways. If he didn’t stay in here with her on their wedding night...the scandal would be horrible, and she would be shamed. Since he wasn’t about to do that, and wasn’t quite sure of how things stood between them...he walked across the room and sat awkwardly, staring out over the gardens through the open door to the porch. Aware of all this as well, Kagome sighed.


“Great,” Inuyasha commented, wriggling in the damned armor.


“Yep. I...you didn’t know, did you?” Kagome called with a sigh as she headed into the bedroom and removed her own breastplate. Uncomfortable was one word for the darned thing-and yes, Sesshomaru was thorough indeed. There was a new addition to her bedroom, a sword stand and another armor rack. For Tetsusaiga and Inuyasha’s own armor, of course. The blankets on the mat had been turned down.


“Of course I did, I let people ambush me and fucking force me to get married every damned day!” he snapped.
“Would you-like some help getting that armor off? I know you’re not used to it and it can be kinda tricky.” A dark haired head poked back into the room and he didn’t even glance over his shoulder.


“No.”

“Alright,” she came out, and noted how stiff and unhappy he looked and smelled. Hesitating, Kagome’s shoulders slumped. As she once had-he followed her movements with his other senses. The difference was he’d done it all the time when they’d hunted the jewel, constantly aware of her.


The barest sigh. A soft, almost inaudible patter of her feet as she moved lightly across the wooden floor, the whisper of troll hair cloth as she moved. Her scent coming closer-and a soft thump. And she was sitting behind him. Gentle, clawed hands rested on his shoulders to comfort him as she leaned over his shoulder. But his eyes went to something else in the room. Deeply troubled, he shook off her hands and went to look at them again, scowling.


Images were on a low table, her ‘photos’, in wood frames covered with glass. Her family from her time was there, and one he saw was of herself, Sesshomaru, Rin and Jaken, standing in snow. Inuyasha went and looked at them more closely and picked one up, a little one of just the two of them. He’d thought they were being attacked by a youkai or something in that tiny booth. Miroku and Sango grinned back at him from one, with him scowling from behind the group as she sat next to them, a smiling Shippo in her lap. Soon after the Kaguya incident, she’d brought a ‘camera’ back with her, he remembered, and had them all sit together while Kaede operated it.


He stared at the human girl in her school uniform in the one group photo, then at the troll robe dressed hanyou in the other...and glanced up to see Kagome watching him. He lifted the one of the human Kagome, and tapped it with a claw as he turned, again seeing all the things that he knew all this stuff used to be at the Shrine. Why was it here? He hadn’t gotten a chance to ask before.


“Why’s all this stuff here and not at your home? Did your Mother send it? They‘re alright, aren‘t they?”

“She did. I can only use the well once a month now, it’s sealed the rest of the time, so...I just slowly moved things here that I wanted from the house. This is my home now, Inuyasha. I just visit there these days,” he looked down at her, and she answered his unspoken question. “You know when I can go if you think about it. Mom’s probably worried sick, I couldn’t go last month and she made me promise to come back when I could to keep in touch.”


“They’re alright, though?” Inuyasha asked. The new moon, of course. When she was human. He’d never considered she wouldn’t be able to see them regularly-he’d stormed out of the hut they‘d all sat in that first day before they‘d discussed it. It had been too painful for her to dwell on then, she’d kept hoping it wasn’t true...and they’d never talked of it.


“Oh, yes! Souta’s studying to be a priest, he’s planning on taking over the Shrine someday. Mom’s great, and Grandpa-you know Grandpa. They always ask about you,” she commented, and he warmed to hear it. But Kagome quickly shifted topics a bit, it was a hard subject for her...she still missed them.


“But, now I can tell them you’re alright. I go, have dinner and check in, do my shopping and come home. I ought to start making next month’s list, really, Rin’s outgrowing her rain poncho and between you and Sesshomaru-” Kagome chuckled, “the ramen supply’s going to vanish in no time if I don’t buy enough. Not to mention he’ll need a new appointment book.”


He frowned. Special things for Sesshomaru and the little girl he’d adopted. She did take care of him...looked after him as she’d said. She noticed his expression, caught a whiff...and Kagome rolled her eyes. Jealousy. She could see it a mile off.


“He’s been good to me, you know. These rooms? A present! He even had Jaken make the hot spring and had that bath built just for me. Sesshomaru is a really interesting person, and he’s not as bad as-well, he seemed to be before I got to know him,” she told him with a sigh, sounding tired.


“I guess. You get him things, like the gameboards you play on together,” he scowled now, ears twitching, and Kagome was puzzled. She and Sesshomaru hadn’t played Backgammon together since he’d come for her at the lair...her eyes widened.


“You spied on us when you were raiding! Didn’t you!? Oh, why am I not surprised? Please! What did you think, that we were doing something perverted, you jealous little...” she trailed off at the embarrassed look on his face. “Me...and Sesshomaru?” Kagome shook her head and started to giggle.


“Yeah, heard it before,” he grumbled. She shook her head again.


“What is it with you? Honestly, Inuyasha! That’s like saying I was-dating Miroku or something! Brain-damaged baka! I got you things too, remember? Although he’s just as bad about saying thank you. It’s always ‘acceptable’, or ‘that seems suitable’. Hopeless,” she rolled her eyes again. “You two...are a lot alike in some ways.”


“We are not alike, Kagome!” Inuyasha barked.

“Yes, you are. You’re both stubborn, stiff, and complete bakas when it comes to some things. You’re both incredibly powerful, and still need a lot of looking after. You couldn’t do a thing without me,” she chuckled and he flicked her ear, making her yelp.


“Wench!” he groused, and Kagome rubbed her ear and pouted.


“You know, I missed just being able to talk to you when-you were gone, Inuyasha. Even if we do bicker all the time,” she admitted.


“Keh,” he shrugged and snorted. “We wouldn’t if you weren’t so damned stubborn.”


“It’s a good thing I am, a normal girl would’ve dumped you years ago! I...know you don’t like each other, but I’m hoping that’ll change.”


“Why should I be reasonable to either of you? He tried to steal Tetsusaiga-and swore you to him like he had right to even look at you, Kagome! You’re mine, damn it, and you just ran off with the fucking wolf, and knew shit you shouldn’t!” he told her fiercely. Kagome warmed to hear it.


“But...am I still yours, Inuyasha?” Kagome asked. He paused, and she bit her lip again.


“Of course,” he answered, annoyed, and she smiled. Even if she had no idea what he meant by knowing things she oughtn’t. “What the hell were you up to in that outfit, anyway? You haven’t worn that since you left that dumb school.”


“Well, I kept it in my closet back at the Shrine as a memento, and brought it with me when I moved my things here, so, I-thought I’d wear it. Sort of a good luck charm. I fought and killed a lot of youkai in that uniform!”

“It didn’t fit. I’m not sure it did then, running around half-naked like that,” he chided. Kagome made a face.


“Very funny!” she shot back.


“Why were you in that skimpy thing with the wolf? The Guards said you were in it then.”


“With...oh,” Kagome winced. “I wasn’t planning on leaving then, you know! I wore it...I thought you might like to see me in it. That it might help,” she admitted.


“Help what? Why the hell would I want to see you run around half-naked again? I didn’t like it then, much less now. People will think things,” he looked away again, remembering. Kagome started to giggle.


“Baka! I was well-” Kagome blushed, “I was planning to seduce you. Or try, anyway. Happy now?”

“Seduce...me...? In that?” he was stunned. She had put it on to please him, she meant. To help remind him she was still Kagome under the changes, his wench...he understood. “That explains the skimpy clothes I guess. But not what...” he frowned and trailed off.


“Inuyasha, what is it? You owe me an explanation on that one. You don’t get to be mad at me for something if I don’t even know what caused it!”


“You know. Do I have to say it?” he looked down, ears flat as her own twitched.


“I really don’t, Inuyasha. Honest. I said I didn’t mean those awful things I wrote. Kouga was looking over my shoulder when I wrote it, I had to be sneaky and I knew Ayami would read it! I was betting she’d be twisted enough that she’d tell you all about it, and get the warning to you and Sesshomaru to hang in there and wait for me to come get you back. I figured you knew. Didn’t you...?” Kagome peered at him, worried...this wasn’t like him. He yelled, he barked, he almost never just sat like this...he seemed to be working up his courage.


“How many?” he asked.


“How-” Kagome’s baffled expression made him snap.


“How many men did you fucking play around with when you went to that baka school!? You lied to me, Kagome. You should’ve told me at least! I was your fucking chosen, I had the right to know!” he yelled. He was her husband now...but he couldn’t take her again, not without knowing the truth. Or what he suspected was the truth. No way he could touch her, knowing she was likely comparing him to others...he had done it, yes. But it was different, he was a man, she was supposed to be a maid, damn it!


“What??” Kagome’s eyes were huge. “You’re kidding me! You know-darned well I never did anything before that morning!”


“Don’t try and pretend, there’s no way you could’ve known all kinds of details about fucking if you hadn’t done some of it before! You just never let them have you, did you?! A real maiden learns that from her man, she doesn’t come to his-my damned bed knowing everything already! Shit I never even heard of-fuck, that Miroku hadn’t heard of, and trust me, I’d know!” Inuyasha’s furious accusations made her jaw drop in shock.

“Inuyasha...” her mouth worked as she answered...and she leaned back. Kagome did something the old Kagome never would have, a trick Sesshomaru had taught her of all things, to keep calm during negotiations. She counted to ten in her head, slowly.


“Well? Didn’t think you could explain it. You were no maiden, damn it, now admit it!” he snapped with a certain bitter, smug triumph at the silence.


“Let me get this straight,” Kagome said very carefully, “you’re angry...because I wasn’t ignorant about sex? And you waited till now to say something? I don’t remember you complaining before, Inuyasha!”

“I’m angry because you-damn it Kagome! How fucking many?” Nose to nose again, ears perked and quivering...she lost her fragile grip on her temper.


“YOU BASTARD!!” Inuyasha’s jaw dropped. She never, ever swore! He actually gave ground in shock, scooting back. She followed, and he paled at the look in her eyes.


“Uh-”


“You-fucked some slut I wasn’t supposed to be mad about! Who the hell do you think you are? I could’ve done half the school if I pleased! You know what? It wouldn’t have been any of your damned business! In my old time, girls do it a-a hell of a lot sooner, and you-all smug and accusing-I never asked you about other women, I never chased after other people-like you did! And I had offers! Lots of them!! Youkai, mortals-here and back there! But no, I chose to be with you!”

“F-feh,” he managed, and she realized he was in the corner of the sitting room where she‘d driven him, ears flat, eyes wide, and she was looming over him in fury.


“Get out of there, you look ridiculous,” Kagome grumbled, deflating as she rose and stalked to a chest, opening it and rummaging. She yanked out a stack of-two books and some magazines? He remembered those thin paper books from her home, and she turned back with them under her arm.


“Well?” he asked.


“Let’s see. You want to know? Here! My human sexuality textbook. From school!” It landed on the wood beside him. She pulled the magazines free of the stack.


“They would never teach-”

“Oh, yes. They do! Eri and Yuka gave these to me awhile back. They’re about um-that.” They were dropped and slithered as they hit...and he gasped at the cover photos, never mind the contents. Magazines geared to women and some adult manga. Inuyasha’s ears twitched as he stared down in prudish shock.


“Those girls gave you this shit?” He knew they were no good!


“This is a manual, and it talks all about it too. I got it from Ayumi when I graduated, and she assumed I’d already done it, by the way! You might recognize page twenty-and most of chapter three! Which you liked, as I recall!” It hit the floor as well. Claws snagged the paper, and golden eyes blazed. “Do not tear up those magazines or the books, Sango has a bunch of stuff marked for later reference,” she said. So did she, but right now she didn’t think she’d be making use of them anytime soon!

“Sango? You actually showed this to her?”


“Sure. Heck, Mom read it! Read the note in the front of the manual.” At this retort, he blushed. Opening the cover of the rather normal looking book, he frowned. He quickly read the inked note. -Kagome, I think you and your boyfriend might enjoy this. Mine did! Ayumi-


“Your Mother...read this?”

“In that time, people don’t pretend sex doesn’t happen. Banging. Knocking boots. Screwing. Fucking! I probably more nasty terms for it than you do!”

“Never say those things!”


“Please! You learn about it in school, you read about it, it’s everywhere-did you ever pay the slightest attention to anything in Tokyo? It may not be perfect, but we’re honest about that stuff. Heck, I was the only virgin in our group here-and were any of you married? I don’t think so! You have no business sitting in judgment of me, Inuyasha! Especially when I didn’t do anything wrong!”

As she lectured, he flipped through the book. Chapter three was rather-familiar, damn it! With pictures. Shocking pictures...of things he definitely did recall doing at her suggestion...her rather enjoyable suggestion...he shut it and glared. She’d graduated some time before they’d slain Naraku, so she’d had it for awhile.


“You had this-and didn’t say anything?”

“Would you tell Miroku you had stuff like that? Even suggest it anywhere near him?” she asked dryly. He hesitated.

“Damn it.”

“I’ll take that as a no,” she said with a tired sigh as she rose. “I’m not up to a fight about stupid things right now. If you-you do what you want, Inuyasha,” Kagome told him, and he bounced up to snag her arm.


“Wait!” he snapped, and she turned. “You-learned this in that baka school, and your Mother actually knew about it. Approved of it.” A nod.


“Yep.”


“I knew those exams were bad,” he muttered indecisively. Eyes rolled.


“Some of them were on that book,” she looked at the textbook on the floor. Inuyasha considered, and nodded to himself. It explained a lot. Her old time, he’d made allowances for it before. If that was how her people did things, she could not be blamed for it, he reminded himself sternly. She hadn’t bedded anyone before him, he knew that.


“Kagome. You’re my wife...and-I forgive you,” he allowed, and her head tilted slowly back.


“Forgive...me...?”

“For not telling me this sooner. You tell me these things! You only talk about them-and do things like that-with me from now on!” he ordered. A thumb jerked at his chest as he explained, and she scowled.


“Osu-oooooohhh. If the beads were on your neck, you’d be eating floor!” Kagome growled, fangs baring.


“Feh. Don’t you dare bare fang at me! I’m being reasonable! I asked instead of just saying the damned word like some people always did, I’ll remind you! Admit it, Kagome! You used those beads instead of talking to me!” he barked, and she glared.


She hated it when he had a point. After living here for so long, she really ought to have realized that the subject was less open and he’d expect her to be like most women here. Half of Sango and Miroku’s trouble had been because of it, because she didn’t know how to tell him she wasn’t a virgin. Didn’t mean she liked the fact, though. Or that yes-she had on occasion said ‘osuwari’ instead of telling him things. Like how she felt.


“Fine. Yes, I did...and...yes, I probably should’ve said something. But it doesn’t make you right! I’ll talk to whoever I please about whatever I please! Got it? You used to run off into your darned trees and not talk to me either!” Kagome didn’t look at him, just leaned against the wooden wall with hands clasped behind her.

“Am I in one now?” At that, she shook her head. No. He hadn’t run off, had asked...if with a lot of snark...and hadn’t said the word when he could have. Only said it once when they’d been arguing after they’d gotten to the valley, really. And then he’d warned her first. If she had control of the beads right now, she’d be repeatedly flattening him at the moment.


“You have changed,” Kagome commented finally.


“So have you, wench.”

“No, I haven’t-” at his look, she winced. “Alright, maybe a little.”

“Maybe? Keh. What’s a lot to you, then?” he made a face at her and she had to smile, fangs flashing. Inuyasha reached over and took her hand. She squeezed it. He pulled her over to him, and put his arms around her. Kagome sighed and snuggled against his chest, making a face as armor poked her.


“You are way too jealous, though, you know.”

“As soon as I leave you alone, someone else tries to snatch you away.”


“Inuyasha...” Kagome reached for an ear as she spoke, “look, Kouga didn’t get anywhere. Or Houjou, either one, really...or any of them, because I wanted to be with you. I could’ve done a lot of things, but I didn’t and I won’t because you’re the only guy I’ve ever loved, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less. Don’t you get that yet? I marked you a long time ago, Inuyasha, and I intend to keep you,” she tugged a cord around his neck. His locket. Golden eyes glowed at her.


Suddenly, he scooped her up.


“I see. You’re taking me back then?”

“No, I thought I’d dump you in there and go somewhere else. You’re mine you know. Nobody else gets to see you in that thing again, either!” he told her, and it was true, Sesshomaru, damn him, was right. Inuyasha carried her to the bedroom, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.


“And you’re mine. I don‘t think I’ll need to wear it again. Besides, it got pretty ripped up saving you two,” she agreed with a smile.


“We’d have gotten out eventually!” he argued.


“Sure.” Eyes rolled...but she grinned.


***


When she woke up the next morning, warm and snuggled beside her husband and mate, feeling wonderful...she smiled at his neck, gently pushing the silvery hair back to see-oh no. No no no! The arrowhead of her own youkai was there at the base of his neck...but it was covered by his moon. But that meant...


“Sesshomaru...” Kagome growled. One eye opened, and there was a yawn from Inuyasha.


“Hm?” he yawned with a sleepy frown.


“DARN IT!!” a yell that awakened her Packleader and brother by marriage...who smiled wickedly. Served her right, the devious girl.


When Inuyasha saw her mark...he hid a grin and wrapped his arms around her, remembering Sesshomaru gripping his mark pendant and making it glow...he was the Clan Lord, with ultimate authority over all such matters. With the power to divorce, and to adjust mating rank as he saw fit.


‘Merely read it my ass, Sesshomaru. Guess this might even up a few things...big brother,’ Inuyasha thought, lying back on the soft mat and smiling at the woman who was indisputably his mate.


Author’s notes- Ahhh. Kagome and Inuyasha are settled at last! Whew! Stubborn pair. There’s precious little left to write in this little monster. The excerpt of the brother’s talk is from the AO chapter ‘The Keep’. If you’ve liked what you read so far or have a non-flame comment, feel free to review! They are much appreciated! Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo