InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Avoidance ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

I do not own Inuyasha & Co.

 

 

Well, it certainly has been a while since I updated this fic, but I assure you, I have more time for writing now, since I have a laid-back job for the time being. Although I am writing the chapters at work again, I am writing them up on paper still, and having to type them up afterwards. So, having made accommodations for this task, I will undoubtedly have more chapters up on a timelier basis. So, without further a due, here is the next chapter of Avoidance. Enjoy!

 

A/N: I have recently been asked to change the language in this fic's chapters. Now while the party who requested this is a fan of my work, the response I am unfortunately making here, is that I am not about to change the character Inuyasha in order to make him a more wholesome entity in this story. The reason why, is simply because this story focuses on his inner thoughts and his behaviors on how he deals with the situations at hand. All those, including me, who know and deeply love Inuyasha as a deep, fun and charismatic character to write, honor the character as a whole, and do not change a thing. I do apologize for not being able to accommodate `everyone', but please appreciate that I am writing him as close to the original character as I possibly can simply because I love the original Japanese translation over the Americanized translation of his wonderful story. Thank you.

 

 

Chapter 7

 

 

 

I eyed the list as I hopped down from the porch, my cap dangling from my fingers. She wasn't kidding. Kagome had food on the list I have either never heard of before, or have never liked, period. And, on top of that, I now know that she requires heavy absorbency pads! Geeze! And…tampons? What the fuck is a tampon? Oh, man. This is going to be embarrassing. What the hell? Bikini…waxing paraffin? Oh, Kami…Ya know, when I took Kagome in to live with me for protection purposes, it never occurred to me that I would learn intimate things about her.

 

Well, okay…I admit. I kinda set myself up for that one. Sigh Man, this is going to be one hell of a trip. I slipped the list into my pocket and set the hat over my ears, since I simply didn't feel it necessary to use a concealment spell just to go shopping. At that thought, I leapt into the nearest tree and jumped amongst the branches all the way to the residential area, just west of the forest and the shrine.

 

After about ten minutes, at full speed, I reached the first roof. I walked a bit and then leapt to the next one. Finally, I reached the one lining the street. I then walked to the alley side and leapt off to land effortlessly on the ground. Once I came to the shadow line, I took a deep breath, released and relaxed as I stepped out onto the sidewalk casually like I had just taken a breather. The streets were packed, and people were distracted. I blended in nicely, especially with my hair pulled into a low ponytail at the nape of my neck. People probably figured with my attire, that I was some rebel kid who couldn't be trusted. Either that, or an old man who's had tons of plastic surgeries to look young. I don't really care in the least. They can think what they want.

 

Soon after I reached the street, I arrived at the supermarket. The first thing I did was pull out the list and grab a cart. The list was long enough to eat for a while. Kagome had veggies on it, tons of rice…Oh…Constipation right there. As I went from aisle to aisle, I checked each item off the list. Then it came to finding her toiletries. When I reached that aisle, my eyes bugged out! I mean, the whole subject covered two sides of the aisle in their entirety! And the pictures on how to use them and where they go…

 

“Hello. You buying those for your young daughter? Your disabled wife?” a feminine voice startled me as I jerked around and dropped the box of tampons at her feet. “You need help?” the young woman asked as her shadow-defined eyes blinked and searched my features.

 

“Uh…y-yeah. What are these for anyways?” I asked as I picked up the box I dropped.

 

She giggled at me and then said, “To absorb the blood during a woman's period without having to wear a pad.”

 

I looked at the rod thingy on the front of the box and pointed at it as I asked, “This thing? How is that possible?”

 

She giggled again as she shifted the box in my hands `til I was looking at the back. “See? She would insert it through here, and it will block the blood from flowing out while absorbing it.”

 

When it hit me, I dropped the box again and started to walk away, stunned. I can't believe I had just been taught how to use a tampon by a strange woman!

 

“Are you all right? Sir?” the young woman asked as she grabbed my shoulder to get my attention. She stepped around me to eye me directly and I couldn't seem to hide the effect the information had on me.

 

“Sorry, I just never knew how a woman handled that. It was always a secret, and now I wish it had remained one.” I panted, causing her to giggle again as she then eyed my list for the item and grabbed the one listed.

 

“I'll help you shop for her unmentionables. Is she your wife? Daughter? Mother?”

 

“None. She's just living with me temporarily.” I replied in a defeated tone.

 

“Oh. Why didn't she come with you? Would have made it much easier on you, I'm sure.” The woman pointed out.

 

“Naw. I was already going to be running here after my other errands today that didn't include her. I'm actually on my way home after the shopping is done. No need for her to go running around while I'm already out.” I shrugged.

 

“Well, how gentlemanly of you.” She replied as I followed while she pushed the cart. In the silence of the situation, I got the chance to look at her closer. She appeared to be young, and her hair was pulled high up in a long ponytail. When she looked my way, I paid closer attention to her looks. She appeared to be only a little older than Kagome. The woman lined her eyes with dark pink eye shadow, and had a soft but sad face. It seemed that helping me helped change her focus, since she looked as if she had been crying.

 

“Um…Can I ask you a question?”

 

“Sure,” she replied simply over her shoulder.

 

“Well, it's kinda personal, but what were you crying about?” She stopped suddenly. “I'm sorry if I…”

 

“My husband,” her simple answer interrupted my apology.

 

“Ya feel like talking about it?”

 

“How did you know I was crying?” she asked suddenly, turning glistening eyes on me.

 

“I just…I can tell. I have that knack for reading eyes. That's all.” Truth is, I smelled tears on her, but I wasn't about to say that to her.

 

“Well, you're an honest gentleman. I feel I can trust you.” She said as she led us from the feminine product aisle. “My husband, Miroku is his name. I heard rumors he had been sleeping with some other women lately. Whenever I ask him, he denies it. Every time, he has denied it. He has always been a bit of a flirt, but I never took it seriously. `Least, not `til now,” she sniffled.

 

“Have you caught him yet?”

 

“No, but my friend said she has. She said he was leaving the nearest geisha house when she bumped into him. When she asked what he was doing there, he asked her not to tell me he was there. She got suspicious and he then begged her, telling her that it wouldn't be right for me to hear, that there'd be trouble.”

 

“Hmmm. Sounds suspicious,” I nodded my agreement.

 

“Well, he still comes home everyday, and he's never avoided me or acted strangely. I wonder if my friend was lying…” she mentioned as she shrugged and asked me if I still needed her help. I shook my head and thanked her. She bowed before me and said, “Sango. Takuri, Sango is my name. Well, hope to see you again, Mr. ...”

 

“Inuyasha.”

 

“Inuyasha. It definitely was a pleasure. Thanks for listening,” she said over her shoulder on her way to another aisle.

 

I then looked at the list and saw I had everything listed. So, I walked the cart to the register to pay for the groceries. While in the line, I thought about everything that woman, Sango, had told me. To think, a good woman like her, married to someone that shady. I shook my head at the thought and started loading the items onto the conveyor belt. Once the cashier started ringing up my items, I grabbed the money from my pocket and counted to give the cashier exact change.

 

Once all the stuff was paid for, I left the store with double-layered bags of groceries. I got the most interesting looks when I took every bag and re-bagged them. I didn't really care how they looked at me. They coulda picked their noses for all I care.

 

Anyways, as I walked down the street, I noticed Kagome's apartment building was right across the street a little south of the supermarket. I decided to stroll over and make my way through the doors into the building. Remembering that I had no key, I stuck the groceries into an alcove, covered by a sheet and then looked around. I saw a door going into an alley behind the building. I remembered what side her apartment faced and it was the alley. So, I went through the door and then looked up. I saw the fire escapes built into the brick and saw that it was do-able. So, I climbed up.

 

When I reached her apartment, I slid the window open and then climbed in. I looked around her empty apartment. Sure, you can call it snooping, I don't care. I looked at her desk and saw an appointment book sitting there. I opened it and what I saw shocked me. Sure, her latest flight schedule for the month was clipped on the inside of the cover, but this whole month was filled with scheduled appointments.

 

A couple were normal doctor's appointments, but the others…I decided to grab the book and take it with me. I then looked around some more, and I smelled something foul the further I got into the apartment. Shit…that's his scent. I followed it into the hallway, and through the door at the end of the hall. When I opened the door, I saw that it was Kagome's bedroom. The weird part was the room held such a strong saturation of the wolf's scent, that it wasn't even funny. I covered my nose and coughed from the fumes. The bed was a shambles, her things were thrown about…And there was some strange substance on her floor.

 

I right away closed the door and got to the window I climbed in through. I locked it tightly shut and left through the door. I quickly got into the elevator and then grabbed my bags in the lobby while looking about. Thankfully, I was alone the entire time. On my way back, I stayed in one of the trees for a few, adjusting the bags. One bag was caught by a branch and ripped slightly. When I returned, I walked in and went straight to the kitchen. Kagome wasn't there, but I set the groceries on the counter and began sorting them. That was when I sensed something strange.

 

 

(Kagome's POV)

 

 

`I certainly hope he didn't have too much trouble finding everything on that list,' I thought to myself as I sat in the dojo since before his arrival. I left the kitchen and roamed a bit while he was gone to help pass the time, and I ended up in the dojo, staring at the swords on the wall.

 

It was rather strange. I do remember everything he said about the three swords. It's just that when I finally stepped closer, I could feel the balance of energy the swords exhumed. The one at the top, I felt absolute malevolence. The middle sword was more neutral than anything. Then there was the Tetsussaiga, which I felt an aura similar to Inuyasha's. Both pure and evil. The Tetsussaiga is the one balancing out the other two. I reached out to touch Tetsussaiga and lifted the heavy katana from the brackets. Once I had it in my hands, I was suddenly compelled to hold it close to my chest and then closed my eyes.

 

The energy I sensed was conflicted, but warm. There was a sense of righteousness about the energy. Suddenly, I felt the energy envelope me. It helped me to my knees and I was led to hold the sword closer still. The words, `I will protect you' popped into my head and a smile graced my lips. The world around me melted and all I saw in my mind was the color pink.

 

 

(Inuyasha's POV)

 

 

Damnit! Where is she? I woulda figured she'd have sensed my presence by now. Suddenly, I felt something strange. Oddly, as I concentrated, I noticed it felt like Tetsussaiga's barrier. I left the kitchen and ran to the dojo. What I saw shocked me. I saw Kagome on her knees while holding the sword. No, scratch that. She was cradling the sword as a barrier surrounded her. Protecting her. The sword chose to protect her on its own. I stepped closer, but then I stopped. It seemed the closer I came, the barrier seemed to get more intense. It crackled as it purified my aura.

 

“Kagome.” I said aloud, but she did not respond.

 

The sword seemed to protect her so well, she was unaware of her surroundings. I stepped closer, causing the air around her to crackle and spark. The barrier got stronger still the closer I came. What I couldn't understand was that Tetsussaiga was rejecting my aura as well, which is unusual. This was a major problem. At this rate, Tetsussaiga would kill her while protecting her like that. I had no choice, but to step closer `til I was kneeling before her seeming slumbering form.

 

I reached out my hands and touched the barrier. It shocked me and I screamed in pain as it threw me back ten feet. I sat up and saw the barrier had lessened since I was further away. “KAGOMEEEE!” I shouted, but still got no response.

 

Obviously, the sword cut her off from all her surroundings. I then took a deep breath, letting my energy focus. A moment later, I launched myself towards the barrier and held firm, my feet sliding ever so slightly as I was pushed back from the barrier as it continued to intensify. Soon, the shocks became less painful the harder I pushed. I held firm and suddenly cracks began to form in the barrier around her. Seeing that, made me even stronger as I the pressed on.

 

Suddenly a pain shot through me. A pain unlike any I have ever felt. I screamed as it pulsed through my body. Then, as the pain continued, I felt warmer. Before I knew it, my hand had reached the hilt of the sword. As I opened my eyes, the barrier dissipated. After a few moments of hearing nothing but my panting, her eyes opened.

 

Her shocked eyes connected with mine as I asked, “What?”

 

“You're…human again.” She said as she reached forward and ran her right hand through my hair, bringing it into eyesight. I gasped as I saw the hand around the hilt of the sword.

 

Sure enough, no claws, and the knuckles were smooth instead of rough. I turned my eyes to look upon her as she inched closer, looking deep within my brown eyes. I sat as still as I could, seeing just as deeply into hers. I could feel her breath caress my face as my sense of smell began to return. She held my hair and watched as silver began to creep through, strand by strand.

 

I grimaced as my features changed. My aura rose again as I right away snatched the sword from her hands. Once the transformation was complete, I rose to my feet and placed the Tetsussaiga back in its place. “What happened here?” I asked as I looked at the floor of to the side.

 

“I don't know. I just suddenly…felt drawn to your sword,” she said as I turned to look upon her.

 

“You felt drawn to it? Why?”

 

“I…don't know,” she replied as she lowered her eyes shamefully.

 

“Kagome, here,” I said as I stepped closer and handed her the appointment book.

 

“Oh…Thanks. Wait, you went to my apartment?” she asked in shock.

 

“Yeah. I was close by, so I checked up on it.”

 

“So, you broke into it.”

 

“Yeah, well…I don't remember you handing me a set of keys.”

 

“That's against the law!” she spat.

 

“Yeah? Well obviously I wasn't the only one breaking and entering!”

 

“What?”

 

“Apparently, that wolf is so obsessed with you, that he's been trashing your bedroom!”

 

“He what?!” she shouted.

 

“Yeah! I'm not even gonna begin to describe what he's done in there. It stinks of wolf so bad, even you'd smell it!”

 

Kagome sank to the floor at those words. “I'm not going back there anytime soon, am I?”

 

“Not while I'm alive,” I said without thinking, `Shit!' At those words, she nodded solemnly. “Hey, I don't know what you've been through, but there are an awful lot of appointments in that book. I'm not gonna let you miss any of them.”

 

She looked up at me in surprise at that statement as I continued with, “Kagome, something's not right here. I'm not gonna just leave you be after what I've seen there. I honestly can't,” I expressed to her as I knelt down before her and ran my clawed fingers of my right hand through her long wavy hair.

 

“Thank you for protecting me,” she said as she looked straight into my eyes.

 

“When you're ready, I ask that you tell me everything important here. I'm not going to be able to protect you well enough until I know what is going on.”

 

“Wakatta,” she whispered her understanding of my request and we both froze in each other's gaze.

 

Suddenly, my stomach growled and broke the thick silence. I closed my eyes and leaned back as I said, “I gotta eat, and I have those toiletries for you in the kitchen.” I then got up, walked to the shoji and then stopped as I looked over my shoulder to say, “Kagome, don't go near Tetsussaiga. Not unless there's a true need of protection.”

 

She looked up and saw my piercing gaze as I continued with, “I don't believe things will ever get bad enough for you to need protection to that degree, since I will do everything in my power to alleviate that option.”

 

As I finished, Kagome stood and made her way towards me as she replied with, “Why would you try to alleviate the sword's protection?”

 

“Kagome, I have never seen the sword do that before. I couldn't touch you at first. It was as if you purified the sword. It began to purify even my energy. It uses the energy of the holder. Apparently, your level of energy can be deadly if used by the Tetsussaiga. It was able to amplify your purifying energy. If I wasn't only half demon, I would have died trying to reach you,” I explained.

 

“Wow…How did you do it?”

 

“Well, I can take a high threshold of pain. It took all of my determination to get you to come back.”

 

“Come back?”

 

“Yes. You were completely cut off from reality. From me. I said your name a few times, and you didn't even flinch. So, I put everything I had into breaking through the barrier.”

 

“I see. I'm sorry. I just heard this voice telling me he'll protect me and to hold it close. So, I did.”

 

“He? He who?” now that's rather interesting. I'd never heard a voice while holding it…

 

“I don't know. It was a commanding voice, deep and full of valor,” Kagome said as her eyes gained a questioning gaze.

 

“Honestly, I never knew a voice could be heard by the user. This is the first account of it that I know of,” I replied as I shrugged and motioned for her to follow me.

 

As we walked towards the kitchen, she put her hand on my shoulder, stopping me as she asked, “Was it painful for me to purify you?”

 

I waited a moment as I closed my eyes to think on how to answer. “Very. But that's not an issue. I don't want you to worry about me. I'm fine now.”

 

“Okay. Thank goodness,” she replied and removed her hand. I then continued on to the kitchen with her tailing behind.

 

After we arrived in the kitchen, I gave her the bag of `unmentionables' as Sango called `em, and she searched the bag while asking me if it was troublesome.

 

“Well, not really. Unless you'd like to count my actually learning what a tampon is, and how one is used…” I gagged just at the thought of it.

 

“Oh, no!” she giggled for a moment. “Who helped you? A pharmacist?”

 

“No, a lady named Sango. She seemed about your age.”

 

“Oh, that was sweet of her.”

 

“Well, she was just a bit too chatty about feminine needs for my taste,” I replied, using my fingers like quotation marks as I said the word `feminine'.

 

“So, how does a woman use a tampon?” she asked slyly.

 

I gave her my most fed-up look as I spat, “I aint answering. I'd rather forget, thank you very much.”

 

“Well, what if I forget? Who'd teach me?” she said in a sultry voice as she leaned on the counter looking at me.

 

“Where are you going with this?” I asked pointedly.

 

“Oh, just wanna know how good your memory is in regards to trivial information. Plus, what if I had an accident, and I ended up forgetting how to use one?”

 

“Keh! If that were to ever happen, I'd call Sango and let her teach you.”

 

“What if…” she continued, but I cut her off.

 

“Oh c'mon! I will say this here and now. I refuse to know how a woman could insert a tampon up her…you know.”

 

“You don't know what that body part is named?” she started to giggle.

 

“No, I know what it's called. I just don't feel I need to say it.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Will you stop?!” I was getting very uncomfortable. Damnit! I know a lot about a woman's anatomy! Why is she embarrassing me?

 

“No. These are perfectly legitimate questions. Plus, I don't know you and you're my `only' companion here. What's wrong with knowing you know these things?”

 

“Tsch. I'm a half demon. I know the human body inside and out. Not only that, but I'm not virgin. So, yes, I know about the female reproductive system, and all about the menstrual cycle. It should be implied that I know my shit, and your shit, okay?” I am definitely losing my patience with this woman.

 

“Oh. Why do you know so much about the human body?”

 

I turned serious eyes on her as I explained, “To know how to kill one,” her expression turned to shock. I then looked away and continued, “I was alone in the beginning and I needed to know how to protect myself. Because I'm a half demon, I'm not exactly accepted by the human race, or by the demon race. So, if push came to shove, I needed to know how to perform a quick and painless kill.”

 

“I never liked the idea of killing humans, being half human myself. The last thing I wanted was to see a human suffer at my hands, no matter what they did to provoke my insanity,” Damnit, she made me say it. I hated talking about my past in terms of survival. I did many things in the past that I'm not proud of in the least.

 

Kagome's eyes turned from her preparations to me as I explained all that to her. Before I knew it, she had made her way over and held me from behind. “I'm sorry you were forced to live that way, Inuyasha. It's just; you seem like such a nice person. I couldn't begin to imagine what it must have been like for you back then,” she whispered tenderly.

 

I lowered my head as images flashed through it, causing my mind to break. All the lives I took, I had put behind me long ago. But now, their screams sound as if I had just performed the insane acts. “Leave me be,” I said tensely, causing her to release me. I then clenched my eyes shut as my chin went to my chest, my breathing quickening.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

“I-I need to be alone. I'll eat later,” I choked out as I tossed the curtain aside on my way out the door.

 

Not too long after I arrived in the tower, I smelled dinner. Kagome had made something that smelled very enticing, but I didn't recognize the scent. I chose to remain in the tower while she ate alone. She bothered me back there. She was opening a huge can of worms. One I thought I had welded shut and buried in the ground. How does she do this to me?

 

I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes. She's gonna be the death of me, in more ways than one.

 

 

@*@

 

(Kagome's POV)

 

 

He left so abruptly. All I was doing was asking questions about him in order to get to know him. He is so closed off. Why? All I could think of as to why he would keep me at such a distance is simply because he's afraid of something. But what could that be?

 

With the way his past sounds, it would seem that he is fearless, but obviously, there are things deep down that frighten him. “Oh, Inuyasha. What can I do for you?” I said aloud to myself as I cleaned the last utensil I dirtied during my meal. I set everything down to dry and then headed out of the kitchen while lost in my thoughts.

 

Little did I know, as my mind was pre-occupied with thoughts of Inuyasha's actions, I found myself stepping up the steps to the tower. As I made it into the circular room, I saw him huddled in the corner, his head cradled between his knees as his hands held his head, his fingers entwined in his silver locks.

 

“Inuyasha…” I said urgently as I knelt before him. All I gained from him was a loud sniffle, indicating that he had been crying. A moment later, I laid my hands on his shoulders and he lifted his head, showing me a pair of reddened eyes, with wet streaks from the tears he shed.

 

“What are you doing here?” he choked out in an angry tone.

 

“I'm concerned about you. To see you cry, it must hurt right now.” He panted as his glare shot words to my eyes such as, `you have no fuckin' clue!' “I believe I do, Inuyasha. C'mere”, I said as I opened my arms widely, inviting him for comfort as a tear fell from my left eye.

 

His eyes showed a stunned reaction as he then inched closer. He seemed unsure, but his heart obviously coaxed him into the decision as he then allowed me to wrap my arms around him, holding him to my chest and shoulder as my hand tangled itself into his beautiful hair, and my heart became louder than the terrible thoughts in his head. His arms gripped my back tightly as I felt my shirt become wet from his emotions, his body beginning to shake slightly.

 

I closed my eyes, and I began to concentrate. I felt his aura, and his thoughts began to flood into my mind.

 

`I can't believe she brought them up again! She brought back my past. Why did she pry? I wish she'd let me move on. I don't wanna hate her. Actually, I think I'm in love with her. But how can I move on, even from Kikyo if she keeps testing me? Oh Kami, I don't want her to be afraid of me. I want her to accept me as I am now. A blockhead with a frickin chip on my shoulder who can protect her from anyone and anything. I want to be able to keep her alive, untouched, and by my side, forever. Gods, I love you Kagome.'

 

My eyes shot open as he continued to hold me tightly. I tried to hide that I had read his mind, but I noticed he had held me tighter still. He gripped me tighter by the moment as he suddenly whispered, “Kagome…”

 

I gained a bit of a blush as I replied with his name and his face turned to my neck, puffing breath onto my bare skin, causing it to tickle. `Inuyasha…what's happening?' I thought as I began to feel an air of unease as he held me tightly. A moment later, his arms began to loosen, as his fingers stretched slightly, and his hands shifted to feel my back tenderly. I began to hold my breath as he pulled away and looked deeply into my eyes, the definite look of a hurt soul seeking comfort.

 

He brought his right hand to my cheek, his eyes holding mine in a locked gaze I could not break. I realized I was still holding that same breath as I watched his every move nervously. I an air of definite calm, he inched closer, and touched his lips to mine as his right hand held my chin in place. The kiss deepened and my heart began to race. `Inuyasha…Please, don't do this! You're heart is not right. Please, don't hurt me, or yourself. Please, stop…'

 

I brought my hands up to press against his well-built chest to gain distance, but his lips and his hand held me within his reach. As I leaned back, he leaned forward, his lips still tugging on mine. I wanted to tell him to stop, but his lips controlled mine as his tongue forced its way into my mouth, causing me to squeal. My back hit the floor, and his hands brought mine over my head as his tongue continued to taste mine.

 

In a fit of fear, remembering what I had gone through in my past, I touched an inner power and released it, causing him to fly from my body, his back hitting the wall a couple feet away. I sat up, panting and shaking in fear. Inuyasha was panting as well, his gaze holding a look of confusion of what had just happened.

 

“Why did you stop me?” he asked innocently.

 

“You didn't ask, and I had no idea what you were gonna do to me. I'm sorry. I was uncomfortable in how you acted with me. It didn't seem an action out of love, but out of needing `comfort' that I am unable to give right now.”

 

He hung his head in shame as he replied with, “I'm sorry. I guess I have developed feelings for you I'm unsure of myself. I just felt so warm in your arms, and your scent is so sweet. I lost control there. I didn't mean to.”

 

“I see. You love me, don't you?” I asked suddenly and his head shot up, shock in his eyes.

 

“I-I…” he looked away shyly as he then continued with, “Is there something wrong with me loving you? Think I'm incapable of love?” he said in an insecure tone.

 

“I never thought that, Inuyasha. I just…I've had it rough with love is all. Unless I know what's going on, I get defensive is all. I don't wanna be hurt by anyone. I've been hurt too many times by men.”

 

His eyes shot to mine again as he saw the sad expression on my face. “I knew it, men have hurt you. Kagome, let me get one thing straight right now. When I am affectionate with you, I have no means of taking it further without your permission. I have never taken a woman without her consent, and I wasn't planning on doing that here tonight. Yes, I was seeking your comfort, but I also wanted to express how my heart feels since I can't do that in words.”

 

My eyes shot open at his explanation. He is an honorable man. I had hoped as much. “Now, is it okay if I express how much I appreciate the fact that you're here? The fact that you're the third woman who has shown me that she cares for one such as me?” he asked as he sat up and inched closer, a tender look in his eyes.

 

I couldn't reject his request. To know his heart was my main goal after all. I looked deeply into his eyes, to see a deep love within, one that he was holding back. His heart seemed to hold so many secrets, as well as love enough for the whole world, which he seemed to love no matter how he was treated. Healing was occurring. Healing which I was providing.

 

I nodded with a soft smile as I said to him, “I would love to know your heart, Inuyasha. I am not afraid now that I will get the chance to know you finally.”

 

“Kagome…” he whispered as he then brought his lips to mine again, the feel of his aura combining with mine, creating energy so intense that my heart raced and pumped harder than it had ever pumped before. He held my head and neck as his tongue swept through me with precision, tasting every crevice of my imperfect mouth. His breath hitched at the feeling of our auras combining. My arms encircled his neck, entangling into his thick hair, feeling his spine beneath his skin shift as his head moved during the kiss.

 

My back hit the floor again, only this time, he held me to his chest tenderly, not forcefully. His legs laced with mine as we continued to embrace each other's feelings while the stars finally came out to lighten the sky above us.

 

 

 

@*@

 

 

Well, surprise, surprise. Didn't expect that, now did we? This chapter was a rather interesting one to write, especially when Sango showed herself unexpectedly. Seriously! I didn't plan that! Nor, did I plan that ending! Hot, eh? Well, this chapter was two months in the making, and I'm rather happy with how it turned out. Made this storyline a bit thicker, and gained more interesting ideas on how things are gonna go from this point on. Well, I certainly apologize for how long it took to post this baby, but I was sick for a whole month, and not only was I sick, but I was weak and very ill. Concentration was impossible. Luckily, I had most of it written beforehand. Well, hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as the others. Thanks once again for your patience. `Til next time, Ja ne!