InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Fates ❯ What Was Once Broken ( Chapter 33 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 33: What Was Once Broken

"Kagome," Yasha whined, "are you ready yet?"

He was getting frustrated - today was the day he was taking his girl to get an engagement ring, and he couldn't wait to get one on her finger... before she changed her mind on him.

He listened intently at the series of mutters and low curses coming from the bathroom, and flinched when he realized she was telling him where to get off - she'd be ready when she was ready, and he needed to calm down and wait.

With a morose sigh, ears plastered to his head, he wandered back into her room, and sat down on her bed with a thump.

Come on, Kagome! How long does it take to get ready, anyway? Women... always taking forever for stupid reasons, he huffed to himself. But then a smile started to cross his lips, and he couldn't help the besotted look that settled on his face. Keh... but I wouldn't have it any other way. As long as I can have her, I can put up with anything.

That's how Kagome found him when she finally left the bathroom and walked back into her bedroom, and she stopped to stare at him dubiously for a moment, wondering what he was thinking that had that kinda... weird... smile on his face.

"Uhm, Yasha?" she called out softly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" he asked, one dark brow climbing into his bangs.

"I don't know," she said slowly, still looking at him with suspicion. "You just have this funny look on your face."

He chuckled. "I was just thinking how I couldn't wait to get that ring on your finger before you change your mind and kick me to the curb." He said it with a smile, but something in his eyes gave him away.

He's really... worried that might happen... "Yasha, I'm not going to change my mind, so stop worrying." She moved towards him, and folded herself to her knees before him, looking up at him earnestly as she placed both hands on his thighs.

"I know I haven't said it much, and for that, I'm sorry, since it seems that you've needed to hear it, but I love you, and I can't imagine being without you now." She sighed, and her eyes dropped, she stared at his shirt for several moments, then looked back up at him.

A trifle reluctantly, she said, "For a long time, I didn't - wouldn't - accept that Inuyasha was right to send me home - to you. That he was right when he said that you were the one meant to join with me in this incarnation. It hurt, you see... that he could cast me away so easily. But I have come to believe with all my heart now that he was right. You, Yasha, and I, Kagome, are supposed to be right where we are - and I wouldn't want it any other way."

He held her gaze for several minutes as he searched her eyes, his own hopeful, and finally, she could see a sense of veiled relief come into them as he accepted her words.

Pulling her up into his arms suddenly, Kagome 'eeped' in surprise, but then smiled and snuggled into his embrace, hoping to calm the tiny shivers that were coursing through his body.

"I love you, Kagome - I love you," he whispered from his spot, nose buried in her midnight locks. "Always and forever you. I've waited for this, for us, for so long..." he trailed off, and Kagome could hear the echo of old pain in his voice.

Her heart clenched sadly - she knew it was her fault he sounded that way.

"Itoshii," she whispered back, knowing he would hear her. "The waiting's over. I'm here, and you're here, and that's never going to change." With one last squeeze, she pushed away a little, and looked up into his face.

"Now... if I remember rightly, someone promised to take me somewhere and buy me jewelry - do you know who that might have been?" she asked teasingly, and chuckled when he growled.

"Keh! It better be me you're talkin' about, woman. There shouldn't be any other guy buying you jewelry. You're mine, and I don't share - I'm stingy that way."

She laughed aloud as she climbed back up to her feet, and held her hand out to pull him up, as well. "What, if Souta buys me a necklace or something for my birthday, are you gonna have a fit?" she snickered.

"Oi! I'll have you know that I'm not that mindless. I'm smarter this time around - I'll leave that stupid crap to Inuyasha." He narrowed his eyes at her as she gasped and snickered even more. "That don't mean, woman, that you can go around tryin' to make me jealous," he warned.

Shaking her head, she grabbed her purse, then, still clutching his hand, dragged him out of her room.

"Come on, Yasha, let's get going before I get aggravated enough to make you buy me the biggest diamond ring known to man just for spite."

He snorted at that. "Heh. You'll have to come up with a better threat than that, K'gome - I've got Tessaiga, remember? If you can't find a big enough diamond to suit, I'll just go pump out a few adamant barrage's, and have you pick one from the chunks it throws out."

Kagome came to a thoughtful halt for a moment at that, and then continued down the stairs.

"No... I think I'll be alright going to a jewelry store and getting something a bit more modest than that."

Stopping in the genkan to put on their shoes, the couple left the house, still amiably squabbling as they disappeared from the shrine grounds.

-cCc-

Kagome couldn't stop staring at the ring that Yasha had bought and paid for - and then reverently placed on her finger, after whispering a proposal to her. While he probably could have found a more romantic place to do so than the jewelry store itself, it was obvious that he hadn't planned what he'd done - which meant it had come straight from the heart.

The look in his eyes gave it away, anyway - the absolute worship she found there completely disarmed her, and there was no way she could have ever turned him down. Not that she wanted to, anyway.

She couldn't stop looking at it and then beaming up at him every few seconds, and he returned all those looks with interest - they were probably leaving a trail of people drowning in all the fluff, but she just couldn't bring herself to care - or stop.

Looking back over the last several years, she couldn't remember once being so happy, and, once again looking down at the platinum-banded diamond surrounded by two smaller emeralds, she decided that all the pain and suffering were worth it.

Oh, not that they didn't have their little fights, but the truth was that it didn't matter. No matter how angry they each got, separating simply never entered their thoughts - and in fact, they seemed to both greatly enjoy making up after wards. Sometimes, Kagome would actually start a fight just to get a great make-up session... though she would never, ever, admit that.

And the best part of the whole thing, in Kagome's opinion at least, was that with Yasha, she didn't have to worry and wonder - did he actually love her, or was she only second best? With Yasha, she was first, and only, in his heart. There was no Kikyou to feel inferior to.

For a moment, at that, she felt guilty, thinking about Inuyasha, and how Yasha was not her first love... but then she realized that it really was different. Yasha was not Inuyasha, and he also wasn't second anything. Sure, she'd loved Inuyasha - but not like she did Yasha. And if he ever began to wonder, or worry, she'd make sure he immediately knew where he stood - there would be none of her running off after some old love, even if Inuyasha had been around for her to do so.

She smiled up at Yasha, and sighed. For something that had once been so broken, she felt more alive than she could ever remember being, and it was all due to the beautiful hanyou next to her - the one that was smiling back down at her.

The one that was leading her somewhere, and she finally realized that it wasn't back home.

"Um, Yasha? Where are we going?" she asked, a confused expression in her eyes.

He shot her a mischievous glance, then looked back up at the sidewalk they were following. "What - don't recognize the way to the mall, woman? And here I thught all girls had that route memorized from the time they were old enough to walk."

She growled at him lightly, swatting his backside with her beringed hand. "Jerk. Why are we going to the mall?"

"You mean, we need a reason?" he teased, then put his hands up in laughing surrender as she glared at him.

"I swear to kami, Yasha, I'm going to make a set of beads for you if you don't straighten up!"

"Okay, okay," he snickered. "I'll stop teasing. I just thought we could wander around, see who's out and about, maybe. I dunno," he shrugged, "I just didn't feel like going back to the shrine right now."

"Oh... okay," she nodded, "I guess I can see that. I kinda agree there - since I've been homebound for so long, getting out and just walking around feels so good - though I'm starting to get a little tired. I think I'll need to take a rest once we get there."

Yasha frowned, cursing himself inwardly. Damn... I didn't think of that. She's been mostly bed-ridden for so long her stamina's shot. Probably should have just taken her to the park where she could have just sat down and enjoyed the day.

"Would you rather go to a park or something and just sit and watch the birds for a while, instead?" he asked, eyeing her worriedly.

"No, I'm fine. I need to build myself back up, anyway, you know, so as long as I can sit down every little while and take a breather, I'll be okay. The malls good for that."

"Hm... I guess so. We'll sit down as much as you need, then. But you'd better tell me if you start to get too sore. I'll carry you home," he said.

Her eyes twinkled up at him gratefully. "Thanks, Yasha. You're the best."

"And you'd better never forget that, K'gome - no one will ever take care of you like I will," he said teasingly, though his gaze was serious.

Kagome nodded. "I know, Yasha." She looked away, staring at the many pedestrians walking by so fast, concentrating so hard on their busy lives. "There's been so many times over the last few months that I wouldn't have been able to pull through if it hadn't been for you taking care of me."

He reached down and took her hand, squeezing it gently, letting her know he understood her words.

It's the truth, after all, she thought. If he hadn't been there, putting all the tiny little shards of me back together piece by piece, I... don't know where I'd be right now. Oh, there'll always be visible cracks, and even a few holes in me, because I was shattered so badly... but I'm as whole as I can be again - he's so patient, to spend so much time on me.

Suddenly feeling every bit the joyous young bride-to-be, she grinned, and catching sight of the mall, she pulled him behind her as she took off towards the main doors at a surprisingly fast clip, which she managed to maintain for quite a ways.

"Come on, Yasha, let's go see what trouble we can find," she cried cheerfully.

"Oi, woman, slow down a bit," he mock scowled. "You shouldn't be trying to run yet - you've only just started being able to walk around easily again."

She rolled her eyes and tugged his hand again, laughing at his disgruntled expression. "Oh, get over it. I'm not some little china doll."

With a sigh, he wondered what the hell he'd been thinking in bringing her here, but he couldn't deny the sparkle in her eye - or the way she kept looking down at her ring finger with excitement. Whatever makes the woman happy... I love to see her with such a smile. And it's even better that I'm the one that put it there - and not that baka Inuyasha... he scowled for real... or that numbnuts wolf... or that pansy Hojo. Keh!

"Well, come on, then," he replied, holding the door open for her. "Let's get the mall surfing over with."

She chuckled. "Mall surfing?"

"Yeah, mall surfing. Anything in particular you want to do or see?" he asked.

"Well-" she looked at her watch, "-it's just after lunch, but we haven't eaten, so why don't we go get something at the food court, and then decide what else we want to do from there."

He shrugged. "Sure. Sounds good, I know I'm hungry as hell."

Thankfully, since lunch had just passed, the food court wasn't quite so swamped, and the lines were short. It didn't take long before they were both at a table and chowing down happily, talking desultorily about this and that.

Yasha wasn't paying any more attention to their surroundings than Kagome was, and that's why he was so caught off-guard when a shrill voice began to berate Kagome. Whipping around in reaction to Kagome's shock, his gaze landed on the one female he never wanted to see in this life again, the cause of Kagome almost dying - Akina.

Rage overtaking his mind almost immediately, his youki rose, beginning to interfere with his concealment spell, and Kagome gasped, shocked and suddenly fearful about his state of mind. Jumping to her feet, she completely ignored Akina, grabbing ahold of Yasha's face and turning his head so he could only see her.

"Yasha, stop, come back to me - don't pay any attention to anyone else. You've got to calm down, itoshii - you're beginning to lose your concealment spell," she whispered, scared to death of what would happen if he couldn't pull himself back from the edge.

She kept her gaze pinned to him as his eyes flickered from gold to red then back several times, before finally leveling out into their normal golden tones. His crests were still evident to her, and he was still growling, but he hadn't lost it yet.

"That's it, my beautiful hanyou, calm down. She's not worth it, you know that, right?"

"That bitch should be dead. She tried to kill you!" he snarled, still clearly enraged.

Kagome was about to answer that when the stupid bitch, who was obviously not smart enough to leave, once more opened her mouth.

By that time, though, Kagome had had it, and without even breaking eye contact with Yasha, she promptly decked the girl, slamming her fist right into her jaw, knocking her out cold. She winced, shaking out her hand.

"Ow... that bitch has one hard head," she groused, not even noticing the stunned look a now much calmer Yasha was passing her way.

"Kagome," he said softly, "You just... you just hit that girl. Where the hell did that come from?"

She cast a disgruntled look at the girl laying on the ground near her feet even as mall security made their way towards the two of them. "Well, don't you think I had enough provocation? After all, she's the reason I almost died, and was in the damn hospital for so long. I mean, come on, she ran me over with a car! And on top of that, she corners me here, and ruins my day with her shrill screaming!"

Yasha immediately stood as soon as he spotted the security guards and stepped in front of Kagome protectively.

"This woman was bothering my fiance and I - would you be so kind as to remove her?" he barked out, his voice commanding.

Kagome almost did a double take - in that moment, he sounded just as cold and dangerous as his uncle did, and she was actually amused at the reaction of the guards - they were obviously wanting to know who he was.

The first guard to reach them asked just that as his partner checked Akina. "She's okay, just out cold," the second one stated.

The first guard didn't remove his gaze from Yasha. "Well, boy? What's your name?"

The moment Yasha told them who he was, faces paled, and without missing a beat, the guards became much more respectful - everyone knew that you did not want to cause trouble with the Taisho family.

"And you say that this woman was bothering you and your fiance?"

"Yes. My fiance was almost killed by that woman recently - she mowed her down with a car, and now, she comes here, and verbally assualts her," he said venomously. "She is not supposed to be anywhere near me or my fiance, so she's in violation of that order of protection, too."

Eyes widening, the two security guards looked down at the woman on the floor, and wondered at her sanity. She had to have a death wish to continue harrassing anyone with that name - not to mention, she had assualted her with a car?

The first security guard looked over Yasha's shoulder at the woman standing behind him. "Ma'am? Could I have your name, please? In case the police need to speak to you about today's incident?"

She blinked, still surprised at Yasha's actions, and not paying too much attention to their words for a long second, until she was prompted again, by Yasha's elbow, this time.

"Ah, sorry, it's Kagome Higurashi," she replied with a blush.

One of the guards spoke into his walkie-talkie, apparently ordering the police to ba called, and Kagome shook her head, staring down at the woman who'd caused so much trouble.

Rather dense girl, isn't she? she thought. I just hope Yasha doesn't go off the deep end again before they get her out of here.

Both security guards were bowing to Yasha by this point, and, ignoring the curious crowds, Kagome listened in.

"Our supervisor is coming to take care of you and your fiance, Taisho-sama, and we will deal with this woman - the police will arrive soon."

Yasha nodded curtly, and Kagome watched his eyes scanning the crowds for the promised supervisor. That was why she caught his wide-eyed look the moment it appeared, and taken aback, she turned her head and followed his gaze...

And almost fell over in shock.

"M-miroku?" she gasped.

-cCc-

A/N: I've been honestly pleased at the response to the odd pairing of Sesshoumaru and Kagome's mom - it's been awesome! I'm glad to see that I didn't tweak anyone out...

Amber