InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Between Darkness and Light ❯ Caring ( Chapter 11 )

Whoa, you guys sure gave me my reviews fast. I almost didn't have a chapter ready. Well I kept my promise and here it is!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does.

Between Darkness and Light

Chapter 11: Caring

By Cataluna

He laid the girl gently down on his bed, and lightly touched her forehead, then checked her pulse. Her heartbeat was steady, but she was still out cold from Kagome's attack. Who knew that the slayer could be so protective towards Inuyasha? He had never seen her go after someone like that before, almost like a she-lion protecting her cubs. Well this was the first time he had been given the privilege of seeing her in action, but from what Inuyasha had told him…she was supposed to be a passive fighter. Judging from how angry she was, if the exterminator wasn't human and they didn't need her…he would not have been surprised if Kagome had ended up finishing her off.

He left her bedside briefly to retrieve a cold compress from the kitchen. Upon his return, Miroku quickly found the bed to be emptied, and the feel of a cold metal pressed against his neck.

"Where the fuck am I?" she hissed into his ear from behind, her other hand squeezed at his shoulder painfully, almost bringing him to his knees.

Cursing at his stupidity for not finding and removing her weapons earlier, he sighed. But decided to talk rather then try to break out of her hold, which he was sure he would have no trouble with her in a weakened condition. "You're in my apartment, because a gang of vampires were after you."

She snorted, "And I supposed you're going to tell me that you're one of the good guys, and you're here to help me," replying with much sarcasm.

"Yes," he said calmly, taking deep breaths to relax his muscles.

For some reason she wanted to believe him. "What's in your hand?" she asked, letting up a little of the pressure.

He held his hand in the air, "A cold compress."

She released the blade from his neck and took a step back away from him. "Why?" clearly confused by his intentions.

He turned slowly to face her, not wanting to alarm the already agitated exterminator. "Your head felt hot. I thought you had a fever, but I guess I was wrong," he smiled, and rubbed his neck. Maybe he should start wearing turtleneck or something, since everyone always tried to hurt him there.

"Oh," her eyes softened a little. "Thank you."

He sat down on the bed. "You're welcome. My name is Miroku by the way, and yours?" raising his eyebrows.

"Sango," she crossed her arms across her chest, then uncrossed them, looking uncomfortable.

Patting to a spot beside him, "Have a seat. You should still be resting." Sensing her hesitation, "Don't worry, you're safe. I'm won't dare to try anything. Besides, you were unconscious for a long while, and you're still in one piece."

Sango chose to sit at the other side of the bed, as far away from him as possible. "That girl…she's strong. I've never been up against someone as powerful as her before. I couldn't even land a punch on her," tracing the pattern on his comforter.

"She's the slayer," Miroku replied, and watched as her jaw dropped.

"Oh no…wow…I had no idea," shaking her head in disbelief. "And here I was trying to keep the ring from you guys when we should have been fighting together from the start. My father had always said I can be a little too rash during battles." She let out an embarrassed chuckle, and hugged her sore stomach. "But she couldn't have been active for more than a few months, she's really tough."

"She's a still a little inexperience. In fact I was really surprised by her performance tonight, but you did threatened someone she really cared about, so that might have been the reason."

Her eyes widened in surprise, "The hanyou? But-"

"Inuyasha's good guy. He may be short-tempered and rude, but he's definitely not evil. I trust him with my life."

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Thanks to his speed, they arrived at Miroku's place in record time, using the spare key that was given to him to open the door. From what he could tell, Miroku was already back safely with that exterminator, but that was not his main concern now. He sat Kagome gently down on the floor, and led her to the bathroom.

His heart ached at the sight of her puffy eyes. Though her sobs had been almost soundless, his sensitive nose did not miss the salty smell of her tears. `I'm so sorry...Kagome.' Kagome sat down on the bathroom seat cover, her back once again facing him, shoulders hunched forward, making her look especially sad and vulnerable.

His search in the cabinet produced a supply of gauzes and medication. "I need to take your shirt and bra off to clean it." Blushing, she raised her arms up high towards the ceiling, ignoring the pain brought on from flexing the muscles on her back.

Swallowing a lump from his throat, he caught the hem of her bloodstained shirt and lifted it above her head, his fingers gazing her skin along the way. Her face reddened, a tingle ran from her spine down to her toes at his touch, she tried to reach back to unclasp her bra, but Inuyasha's hands beat her to it. The straps slipped past her shoulders, stopping at the bend on her arms.

Attempting to remain some level of modesty, she crossed her arms tightly across her chest, and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply to control her racing heart. He cleaned her injury with a gentleness she didn't think someone with his strength and power could processed, his touch was feather light, treating her as though he was afraid she'd break apart.

He finished bandaging her up and handed her shirt. "How do you feel?" he asked softly. Her shirt fell on the floor, she rubbed her arms. "It hurts," she finally replied, her voice barely audible, not knowing why she was telling him this, perhaps it was because of her injuries.

Inuyasha gritted his teeth, hands fisting at the side, hating himself, knowing full well that she was referring to the pain he had caused her rather than her injuries, because he felt it too. He hated this, but she needed to know and fully understand the reasons, the obstacles they would have to endure, before he could take her in his arms and tell her everything would be okay. He walked in front of her and crouched down to her face level. Lifting her chin gently with his hand so he could meet her in the eyes, "Kagome."

Her lips tremble, "why?" she questioned, voice wavering, her eyes searching his for answers.

"Since I've met you…I can't stop thinking about you. You make me laugh, we have fun together. But…I…I wanted to save you…us, from what my parents went through. They're not going to accept us, especially with you being a human AND the slayer, and me being a demon."

"Half demon, and I don't care!" she said loudly. "I don't care," she repeated again, more softly this time, head shaking a little from side to side.

He threw his hands up in the air, grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently, trying to get her to understand. "God, Kagome…this could destroy us! You remembered what I told you about what they did to my dad, and how my mom was nev-"

She silenced him with a soft kiss, and felt his resistance for only a moment, before responding. Unlike last time, their kiss was tender and sweet. Kagome pulled away, and brushed his bangs from his eyes, trying to read his emotions. She saw confusion, happiness, and maybe even lover. "I'm a big girl, let me decide what I want, okay? " she smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek.

His lips curled up, "But, what about that Hobo guy?"

"Hojo," she corrected him, "But it doesn't matter. HE doesn't matter. I know all the pros and cons, you're worth it. I want to be with you."

He smiled back, pleased by her decision, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Careful with her wounds, he pulled her into his arms, and nested his head in the curve of her neck. Stroking her hair, "I want to be with you too," he admitted to her softly.

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Inuyasha paced back and forth across Miroku's living room. Due to Kagome's insistence, he had refrained from barging in the bedroom and questioning that girl right then and there.

Kagome laid on the couch, wearing Inuyasha's shirt because hers was torn, head on the armrest. She was feeling much better now, almost healed, but was starting to feel dizzy from following his movement back and forth across the room. Letting out a sigh of exhaustion, "Inuyasha, stop that and sit, or you'll wear a hole in Miroku's carpet."

He paused and gave her an annoyed look, "Keh," before flopping himself down on the floor in front of Kagome, and leaned his head back.

She gave a small smile of triumph and ran her hand down his hair, liking the feel of his silky silver tresses in between her fingers. Enjoying the sensation, he closed his eyes still can't believe they were finally together. He had almost messed everything up. Plopping herself up with her elbow and she bent down to place a kiss on his forehead, then his eyelids.

His eyes opened in slits, he cupped her face in his hands and dragged it down to meet his in a passionate kiss. Without breaking contact, he twisted his body around, and climbed on top of Kagome, planting his elbows at the sides, careful not to crush her. She looped her arm around his neck, her hand fisting in his hair, pulling him closer as his tongue plundered her mouth. His hand itched up the side of her shirt to her stomach, feeling it contract with her heavy breathing as their kiss grew hotter and deeper. One of feet traveled up and down the back of his leg, before wrapping hers around his.

The little noise she was making at the back of her throat was driving him crazy. Afraid he would lose control of himself and end up taking Kagome right then and there on the sofa, he regretfully broke the kiss. Besides, he had a feeling they were going to be interrupted some time soon, Miroku always tended to have the perfect timing. Panting softly, he nuzzled her nose, and kissed her one last time on her forehead. He then sat up and placed her legs on his lap, stroking her silky skin lightly with his thumb.

She squirmed and let out a giggle.

He paused and raised his eyebrow at her in amusement. "You're ticklish?" his hand traveled up to her stomach.

"No," she managed to spit out at the same time trying desperately to appear unaffected by his ministration.

Chuckling, "Imagine that, the all powerful slayer is ticklish!" he continued his ruthless assault, amused by how red her face was turning as she continued to try and deny it. Lowering the pitch of his voice, he held her hands above her head in one hand, the other one crawling at an agonizing pace up her stomach. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." But before he could lean down and attack her lips, the bedroom door opened, causing them both to jump at the sound. Kagome quickly pushed him off with a thud to the floor, and straightened out her clothing, which had ridden up earlier due to Inuyasha's wandering hands.

He cursed loudly before picking himself off the floor.

Miroku walked out with the exterminator following hesitantly from behind. From the look on their flushed face, and the loud thud he had just heard, he immediately figured out what had been happening between them and gave them an amused smile.

"Shut up!" they both said to him at the same time before he could dare to open his mouth.

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"My clan has protected the Ring of Midoriko for generations. We are trained in various forms of martial art almost as soon as we can walk. Our life mission is to keep the demons from obtaining the ring…thus leading them to the Shikon no Tama." she began, her eyes flickering to Kagome, then Inuyasha, and finally settling on Miroku.

He gave her a small nod, urging her to continue.

She gave him a small smile in return, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "My great great grandfather, along with the clan helped the slayer bring down Naoki, the last owner of the jewel…driven completely mad by it."

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha out of the corner of her eyes briefly with worry. Fisting the hem of Inuyasha's shirt. "Is there anyway that someone can use its power for good without getting consumed?"

"No!" Sango cried out sharply, startling them all. "The Shikon no Tama has brought nothing but misery to thousands of people, good and bad. One way or another, it will turn on you, and your loved-"

"Like I've said before, they were probably too weak-minded…with evil and greed in their heart, no self-control over their emotion. I will be using it for one purpose only, to become fucking powerful enough to avenge my parents," Inuyasha interrupted, growling slightly.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said softly, and reached out to hold his hand in reassurance.

He calmed almost instantly at the sound of her voice. `How did she get to have such an effect on me?' he asked himself. "Sorry," he murmured a half-hearted apology.

Sango nodded in acceptance, "In order for you to understand the effect the jewel can have, I'll have to tell you guys the story of Naoki."

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Don't forget to review! Let's make it 12 reviews this time before I'll give you the next chapter (get it? 12 reviews for chapter 12). If you would like me to tell you when the next chapter will be out, be sure to mention it in your review and give me your email address. Thank you for reading and supporting my story.

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