InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Avoidance ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

I do not own Inuyasha & Co.

Oi, it has been a while, but I have made the necessary changes needed to make this chapter, and the chapters to come possible.  With the schedule I have formed for myself, I should be able to once again, put out at least one chapter a week :-D  So, rest easy, you'll have more to read more often.  Thanks again for your patience, everyone.

Chapter 6


Once Kagome finally fell asleep, I laid her back upon the futon and covered her body with the comforter.  I watched her for a few moments as she settled and then moved to the wall opposite her, beside the shoji. 

What is it she's hiding?  She's obviously had some run-ins with that Koga jerk.  I'm not sure if she will tell me or not.  'Course, she needs to learn to trust me first.  She doesn't trust me yet if she thinks I'd attack her.  The question is, since I can't hold her here forever, what am I going to do with those jerk plaguing her dreams?

I thought things over thoroughly as Kagome slept.  After about an hour, she continued to sleep peacefully.  I realized I wasn't going to get to sleep with such a noisy mind.  So, I stood, slid the shoji open as I stepped out onto the porch and I looked out into the night.  Being lazy, I shut the shoji with my foot, shielding her from my presence.

Now that Kikyo has returned to my mind fondly after so many years, Kagome's face began to look similar to Kikyo's.  Only differences are her innocent eyes and her free spirit, unaware of any major responsibility.  I turned and looked at the shoji door.  Her breathing still told me she was still out cold.  With the thoughts nagging at my brain, I got up and entered her room again. 

As the moonlight spilled into the room, my shadow covered all but her face.  I stepped a bit closer, letting more light in and then sat beside her.  Sure enough, seeing her laying there sleeping, it was as if I had been thrown back through time.  It was as if Kikyo never died.


As I continued to eye her sleeping face, I thought about how I was towards her in the beginning.  I was such an asshole.  Sure, I had my reasons for the attitude problem, but now...I think I need to rethink my attitude from now on.  Why?  Well, she's been very kind and polite to me, even with my badass chip I slap at her when I open my mouth.  Not only that, but there's just something about her; her aura seems strange now that she's not aware consciously of her surroundings.  Out of all the humans I've interacted with over the years, she's the only one in this era I've felt anything akin to a priestess.

She seemed to live quite an interesting life, not mentioning much of her family.  To my knowledge, she seems to be all alone out there and I don't believe she's fully aware of her capabilities.  This girl is alive for some important purpose, not for the crazy life she has conjured up for herself.  She needs a more relaxed life.

Would I be able to provide such a life for her?  I don't know for sure.  She's beautiful, kind, and let's just face it, people out there just plain suck, end of story.  Especially the men out there.  Tsch, I'm honestly ashamed of them.  I would never force a woman into submission.  That sort of thought never crossed my mind in the presence of a woman.  Sure, there's a lot I am hiding as well, but it's not the right time for show and tell.

I wonder how long she will allow me to protect her.  Having a woman under this roof seems refreshing.  I almost don't want to let her go, but I guess I'll have to if she asks me.  I just don't trust the world with this woman for some reason.  All right, I admit it.  Well, almost to myself, she's grown on me a bit.  Her presence does something to me, okay?  Geeze...No, I haven't gone soft.  Hell no!  I just can't allow something horrid to continue when I can do something to help.  Got a problem with it?  Good.  Believe me, I know what I'm doing.

Now, that that's settled, I left her sleeping form and closed the shoji once more.  I stood at attention as I concentrated, and sniffed the air to make sure nothing could be detected.  (Sniff, sniff) So far, so good.  I sighed and stepped down the hall towards the tower stairs.


Once I arrived in the tower room, I opened a couple windows and let the nice breeze in, bringing the scents of the forest with it.  I chose to spend the rest of the night up there so that I can monitor not only the sounds inside the mansion, but also the forest.  Plus, I also wanted to keep at a distance from Kagome.  She was a major distraction.

After a few minutes of opening the windows and listening carefully, I sat down and leant my back against the wall.  I closed my eyes, letting my senses of scent and sound concentrate harder.  With my being a hanyou, sometimes my eyes can outweigh and distract from my stronger attributes.  The rest of the night, I slept very lightly in the tower to the sounds of the forest.


@*@


As a ray of sun bled through my eyelids, I lifted my hands to rub the sleep from my eyes.  I blinked a few times and then stretched with a yawn.

(Kagome's POV)


I awoke to the fresh smell of dew as the sun's rays peeked between the shoji to grace my eyes.  I adjusted my yukata to close a bit more, and re-tied the straps.  When I slid the shoji open, I was met be absolute calm.  The only sound being that of the soft breeze through the trees across the way.  I stepped out and walked towards the main hall.

Strangely, as I arrived in the main hall, I sensed something.  Some strange feeling I vaguely remembered feeling before energized my senses.  I eyed the different directions as I searched for the source.  I then sensed the energy flowing from the stairway where I had bumped into Inuyasha the day before.  Taking another chance, I let curiosity carry me up those stairs once again. 

As I ascended, sure enough, the energy was getting stronger.  Once I reached high enough, I was met by light.  I reached the top most steps and looked around in awe as I turned my head to survey everything.  Suddenly, I heard a sound.  I looked in the corner and saw Inuyasha.  He was in mid-yawn, bearing a mouth full of pearly whites, and among them were four sharp and prominent fangs.  I stood still as he awoke as focused his gaze on me with a start.


(Inuyasha's POV)


'What the...?  How did she find me?'  She stood before me with such a look of shock on her face that it seemed she was afraid I'd punish her for wandering.  "Something wrong?" I asked.

"No, I just...got curious is all." She replied shyly.

"Curious about what?" I asked as I let my arms drop to the floor beside my hips.

"I felt something." She answered as she averted her gaze.

"What do you mean?" I was dumbfounded by what she was trying to say.

"Nothing..." She tried to drop the subject, obviously, as he turned her attention to the windows.

"What do you mean? Nothing...You looked spooked just a minute ago." Now I'm definitely confused.

She didn't answer, but gained a far-off look as if she was trying to hide the truth.  Fat chance!  "Look, if you have a problem with me, just say it." She turned to give me a smile and a cheerful look in her eyes.  Now I know she's hiding something.

"No, no problem.  I was just curious about what was up here.  You blocked my way yesterday, so I decided to try again." She replied as she turned her smile to the forest.

"Then what was up with the look you gave me just a few moments ago?" I was beginning to get frustrated.

"What look?" She asked as she turned a questioning gaze at me.

"Whatta ya mean, 'What look'?  The one akin to a deer in the headlights!  That look!" I spat as I mimicked her voice.  She wasn't gonna get this past me.

"Oh!  I just didn't expect to see you up here.  So, I was startled." She shrugged it off!

"And?"

"And what?" She started to look testy.

"You said you felt something.  What did you feel?"  She's gotta answer sometime.

"It's not important.  Don't worry about it." She waved her hands as if the look and her previous demeanor meant nothing.


"Keh!" I snapped as I descended the stairs.  She was so infuriating!  Not only that, but now I have to find somewhere else to sulk.


(Kagome's POV)


*Sigh* I didn't mean to upset him.  I just can't open up to him just yet.  There's so much going on in my head that I can't fish out an anchor.  Not only has it been Koga, but many others.

To be honest, I've kept people at a distance due to my experiences and fear of what may happen next.  Inuyasha doesn't know this, but I am afraid of men, period.  Men have eyed me like a jewel, possession, piece of gold, take your pick.  And nothing I could say would turn them away.

Actually, I'm a bit new to Tokyo, save for the few times I was brought here to visit the shrine.  I've only lived here for a couple of years.  I've had to move frequently when I became of age in order to protect myself.  Heck, I've even gone so far as to use false names when introducing myself.  Of course, it's always the same outcome.  And, now this?

I've wound up under another man's protection.  What's strange, is this is the first time a man of Inuyasha's caliber stepped up to protect me.  I'm just as confused about him as he is about me.  Why is he doing all this for me?  What is his gain?  Does he want what they wanted?  Doesn't seem like he does.  As I pondered those thoughts, I turned from the beautiful view and followed him down the stairs.


@*@

(Narration)

As the day wore on, Kagome explored the mansion a bit more while Inuyasha took to sulking in a tree close to the estate.  She was puzzling him well enough to give the situation great thought in silence.


(Inuyasha's POV)


Why am I doing this again?  I'm unsure of what is causing me to feel protective of her.  There's something about her, which calls to me.  I can't even get her out of my head.  She's only been her for a day and a half and she's already so far under my skin that I can't seem to get rid of that feeling.  The feeling that something's not right.


That presence I feel when I'm near her, the way Koga seemed so possessive of her when he hadn't even mated with her.  This had dominance written all over it.  I mean, even I've felt the power radiating from her.  It draws me in.  Possibly into her soul.

The weird part is I've been around mortals with spiritual powers and I've never felt a pull to them as I feel to her.  I feel this strong territorial need to protect her.  What is it about her?  I decided then to go check her out closer, maybe even touch her aura to see if she has any control over it.


(Kagome's POV)


So, there it is, the bath.  I looked around and saw a faucet set through a bucket.  I set the water temperature and decided to fill the tub as I stripped of my clothes.

As I filled the wash bucket, I sat upon the stool and poured a bit of the water over my naked body, and then lathered the soap in my hands.  A sweet scent filled my nose from the suds.  Strangely enough, these actions seemed like second nature to me, even though I'd never used a Japanese style bathroom.  All that I could hope is that this isn't the only bathing room in the whole mansion.

Once I had finished lathering my body with the freshly scented soap and shampoo, I poured the rest of the water over my head and shoulders as I sat on the stool.  Letting the fresh water fall in droplets down my body to wash the suds away.  I eyed the tub, and saw it was filled enough.  I turned the faucet off and stood from the stool.

 

I let out a relaxing sigh as I settled my clean body in the warm water. I then opened my eyes after a few moments and eyed the rest of the room. I then saw a yukata draped off a hook on the wall on the other side of the linen shelving, which I hadn't seen before. It was cream colored, and was mended quite a few times. As I looked closer, I noticed a few poorly stitched frayed edges.

 

“Must be Inuyasha's yukata” I said aloud as my eyes remained on the garment. With it looking as beat up as it does, I began to wonder how old it is. Throughout the mansion, there are old paintings, vases, and furniture. The newest rooms in the mansion are the kitchen and the dojo as far as modernized. Everything else seemed older, repaired and maintained well.

 

As my eyebrows peaked up, the thought of Inuyasha's skills as a homeowner and maintenance man, surprises me. Hois clothes mending however…

 

After about fifteen minutes of staring at the garment, I stepped out of the tub and crossed the room to the garment holding my attention. I reached up and took it from the hook. I felt the thin fabric and then lifted it to my nose. A variety of smells sailed into my nose. Unfamiliar scents graced my senses. Nothing like the usual scent an everyday man would leave behind, but one of the scents reminded me of wet-dog, strangely enough. The fabric was soft and weathered very well. During my exploration of the garment, I noticed a barrage of yellow stains, which accompany many of the shabbily mended slits.

 

Just as I had held the garment before me, the door slid open, forcing a scream to fly from my mouth as I wrapped said yukata around the front of my naked and wet body. “Oh…Sorry…” Inuyasha said shyly as he then turned his face to look into the corner with a blush to his cheeks.

 

“Is there something you needed?” I asked, seeing as he wasn't leaving.

 

“Wrap that around you properly, please. I won't look.” He replied with his back facing me. I eyed him for a few seconds and then did as he asked, the yukata hanging off my thin frame.

 

“Okay.” I said, signaling that I had tied the ties.

 

“Kagome, I need to talk to you about something.” The handsome hanyou said as he faced me once again, his eyes soft and underlined with a blush.

 

“What is it?” I asked as I took a seat on the edge of the tub as I leaned back to squeeze the excess water from my long and thick locks.

 

(Inuyasha's POV)

 

“You never told me about your past. I'm curious because…” I stopped my question because the actions she was performing caused my voice to catch in my throat. Here I am, wanting to ask her a simple question, and here she's making my blood heat up while wearing my old yukata, no less.

 

“Yes?” She asked, turning her eyes to me as she continued to squeeze the water from her hair.

 

“Well…Because I've noticed something about you.”

 

“What?” She asked as she sat up straight to give me her full attention.

 

“A power of yours.”

 

“A power? Me? Well, my grandfather is the only one I know who claims to be able to ward of evil. But, I doubt if I have any power, it didn't come from him. Especially since, I haven't trained with him. I chose not to. Why do you ask?”

 

“Well, you seem to give off an aura. Stronger than any other human I've ever encountered, even in a human priestess. I'd like to know why.”

 

“Hmmm. Are you sure?” She asked as her eyebrows scrunched up and she wrapped her arms securely around her torso.

 

“Well, you obviously wouldn't know since you're untrained and no one ever told you. There's no way you could have known since no one else around you can sense it. Least of all a human.” I explained, thanking Kami that the subject was enough to distract my need for her.

 

“What kind of power are you talking about?” She asked, angling her eyes to scrutinize me.

 

“A pure aura. That of a formidable priestess.” I replied as I stepped closer, piercing her eyes with mine. “One that could purify even the most powerful of demons. Including Kouga and me.” I stopped about a foot before her and glared slightly.

 

“I didn't know. When did you notice this?” She asked, giving me a nervous look.

 

“Last night while you were asleep. The room radiated with your aura. Especially when you had that nightmare. I had to keep my wits about me to protect myself in case you were to try and purify me in your struggling.” I explained as I crossed my arms over my chest.

 

“Wow. What can I do? You know I mean you no harm.” She replied simply.

 

“I know. Only thing is, I have another question you're not gonna like. I feel drawn to you. Spiritually. I can't explain why, but I feel this territorial need to protect you. Protect you from everyone.” I explained as I knelt before her. I reached up and brushed her bangs behind her ear. “It's not just Kouga you've had to fight off. Am I right?” I asked softly.

 

She sat there as her nerves set in. After a moment, she whispered, “Yes.”

 

I gazed into her eyes for a moment and then said, “I now know why. Kagome, it's your purity. Your pure energy draws anyone who's curious.”

 

 

(Kagome's POV)

 

 

I couldn't think straight. Here I am, draped in his yukata, sitting on the edge of his bathtub, and he's kneeling before me. His gaze went from strong to soft and then to needy within a matter of moments. My heartbeat sped away as he ran his hand through my wet hair, only to settle on my shoulder. His eyes never left mine for a second. There was something there I couldn't help but wonder about.

 

“Inu…Yasha…What are you doing?” I asked nervously as my body began to tremble.

 

He sighed as his gaze held firm. “I don't know…I can't seem to move from you.” His hands found their way to my waist as he shifted slightly, his stomach pressing at my knees slightly. My breath hitched as his face slowly inched closer, his eyes slowly closing. I felt his breath caress my face as his lips touched mine. The kiss was chaste and soft. My breath released at the comfort of his lips against mine as he did the same.

 

Before we knew, what was happening, his arms were around me, and he had parted my legs to move in closer as the kiss deepened. I hadn't been in a relationship since high school, but this…This felt different. The kiss was filled with more than what he meant to express. Even with his passionately tight grip on my body, I let myself enjoy the kiss he was giving.

 

(Inuyasha's POV)

 

I can't explain it. What's drawing me to her? I didn't mean to kiss her. Well, maybe I'm in denial…Her body just feels so good in my arms. It's almost as if…She's here. Kissing me. Oh, Kami. What am I doing? I barely even know this girl! “Mmmm…” This is Kagome, isn't it? Oh hell, I can't tell…”Kikyo…I missed you.”

 

 

(Kagome's POV)

 

 

I gasped as I pulled away. What did he just moan? His eyes shot open. “What? What's wrong?”

 

“What did you just say?”

 

“What do you mean? I didn't say anything.” Liar…

 

“You said something like, `Kikyo, I missed you.' What does that mean?” He looked at me dumbfounded.

 

“Oh…I was thinking about…Aw, shit!” He stood from me and stepped from the room abruptly, slamming the door shut.

 

I sat there after he left and tried to gather what he had just said and did. So, that was it. He's not attracted to me, he's still attracted to her. To this Kikyo he was in love with. Well, still in love with, obviously.

 

I touched my fingers to my lips. That kiss was so intense, so…wonderful. As I tried to calm myself, I reached down, pulled the plug to drain the water and walked to the mirror. That was when I saw it. The thin material had soaked in the water from my body and made the yukata see through! “AHHHHH!”

 

I crossed my arms over my chest as I grabbed a towel from one of the shelves behind me, slipped out of the wet yukata and wrapped the long and fluffy towel around me. Then I hung up his yukata and grabbed my things on my way out of the bathroom. I walked in the direction of my room and quietly walked down the hallway towards my room. The further I went, the more sounds I heard coming from the dojo ahead of me.

 

As I came upon those doors, I stopped. The sounds I heard were grunts and panting followed by harsh footfalls and squeaks upon the wood. I could also hear a large weapon slice through the air. What he was going through back there was obviously confusing enough for him to need to work it off.

 

Curiosity got the best of me as I slid the shoji open just enough to see him standing in a stance, his back facing me. Suddenly, he stopped, tensed and shot a glance at me over his shoulder. I gasped and ran from the dojo and down to my room where I was originally headed.

 

As I reached my room, I slid the doors shut and slid to the floor across from them. I may have caught his eyes for a split second, but that was just enough time to get a shot of his chi through me. I was wrong. He wasn't confused. He seemed angry.

 

(Inuyasha's POV)

 

 

I felt the need to hit something. What I said to her was completely stupid. I didn't mean to call her `Kikyo'. Kikyo was the only woman I've ever been intimate with. Thought she woulda figured that out by now.

 

(Sigh) I sheathed Tetsussaiga after I turned my gaze from the crack in the shoji. Thoughts plagued my mind about the past and the present. Thoughts of a nature in regards of awakenings. Three in fact. Once, when Kikyo awoke my heart for the first time. I began to believe that there truly was hope for me in this world. The second being the girl who awakened me from the spell I had been enslaved under for centuries. The third awakening. Kagome, a descendant from a line of mikos and priests.

 

What does this all mean? Why must I continue to run into these situations? Why me? I'm just a half-man, an abomination that has existed too long. Alone. All alone. Before and after Kikyo, I saw myself as less than worthy. At least of the heart of someone like Kagome.

 

I set the sword on the rack and eyed all three. One to protect, one to revive, and one to conquer. All three left for me. My father carried them all, though the other two, I dare not touch. The one to conquer, Sounga, is protected by a barrier surrounding the sheath, keeping the beast of a blade dormant.

 

Tenseiga, I don't know how to wield. Sure, it was used to revive my mother in the past, but as it was carried by Sesshomaru for many hundreds of years, it rejects me, just as Tetsussaiga rejects him. The question I have, is why would all three fall into my hands when I can not wield the other two?

 

(Kagome's POV)

 

(Pant…Pant…)The chi I felt through the shoji was amazing. It brought goose bumps down my arms, legs and spine. Almost pure anger I felt. What brought on the emotion in him? Was it something I said? There won't be any approaching him tonight. Maybe I should stay here, where I'm out of his way. (Groaning) Oof, my stomach is empty. I wrapped my arms around my stomach as the hunger pangs hit. After a few moments, I forced the fear out of my head and opened the door. I looked both ways, and sent out feelers to sense where Inuyasha's aura was flowing form. Once I sensed that he still lurked in the direction of the dojo, I then walked to the kitchen.

 

I opened the fridge and saw nothing but bundles of meat. No doubt, caught and cleaned meat Inuyasha hunted from the forest before he brought me here. I opened the freezer, and sure enough, frozen meats and fish fillets. I then stepped away to the cabinets. The pantry was full of ramen and soup makings.

 

“Not much variety, eh?” I said aloud.

 

“Gotta problem with it?” I heard from the doorway. I gasped and turned suddenly at the remark.

 

“No. I'm just not used to so much meat is all. You don't even have rice.” I commented.

 

“I don't like rice as much as I like ramen. I buy some every now and then.” He shrugged.

 

“Humph. I think we need to go shopping today.” I said as I opened the freezer again to decide on fish.

 

“Whatta ya need?” Inuyasha asked as he leaned his back against the doorframe and looked at his claws.

 

“You need me to make a list?” I asked.

 

“Naw. I'll remember.”

 

“Okay. Seaweed, rice and plenty of it. Eggs, Mochi…”

 

“Mochi? What's that?”

 

“You don't know what Mochi is?” I asked with a deer-in-the-headlights look on my face.

 

“Nope. I may shop, but since I stay away from people, I don't know what they've experienced or eaten.” He shrugged.

 

“Oh, well I'm going to alleviate that really quickly.” I boasted as I went back to thinking about what I'd like to fill his oversized and empty cupboards with.

 

“Tsch, you can try, but my tongue is as sensitive as a dog's, so nothing spicy.” Inuyasha pointed out as he eyed me lazily.

 

“Okay, then. We'll start simple.” I said as I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper as I wrote down a short list of things for him to buy.

 

When I handed him the paper, he stuffed it lazily into his back pocket and started walking out while saying, “I hope you're a good cook, `cuz I only know how to cook over an open flame.”

 

I then looked around me at the nicely equipped kitchen and saw every appliance under the sun, and very expensive on top of it all. “He has all this, and he can only cook over an open flame? This doesn't make sense. Any chef worth his salt could only dream of owning a kitchen like this!” I exclaimed.

 

Then the thought hit me, this kitchen may have been fully functional to medieval standards long ago, and he just decided to keep it alive by updating it properly. I sat upon one of the chairs at the table and eyed the handy work and the love Inuyasha had obviously put into the home. “He must have loved his mother. I bet most of this is to please her. It's stereotypical to think it, but in most cases like this, it's generally the woman who is pleased by a fully functional kitchen.” I said aloud to myself.

 

 

@*@

 

 

Well, I know there's still more to go into this day, but I felt this was a good place to end this chapter, since my mind's wanderings into the grocery store with Inuyasha meant the possibility for some interesting moments. Not only that, but just the grocery trip alone, we all know, could be interestingly told in such detail that it would take much longer than I'm able to spend at the moment. I'm just glad I finally got this chapter finished, since it's taken me over a month to finish the sucker! So, again, I thank you all for your patience, which you hopefully won't have to endure any longer, since I have an actual schedule where I can plan to write. However, the most important factor is a clear and unstrained mind, which was difficult to achieve a month or so ago. I'm just happy I have the time to entertain once again. Well, `til next time, ja ne!