InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Hearts and Crushed Dreams ❯ Exhaustion ( Chapter 4 )

~Chapter Four~

.:Exhaustion:.

 

The heat of the summer day was escalating fast as Inuyasha squeezed Kagome's small hand. “It'll be alright. We'll get through this together.” He was assuring himself more than he was Kagome.

They were both in unbearable pain from injuries inflicted by Naraku, the soreness and aching of their muscles, but most of all, the emotional distress of losing their companions.

They were cutting through a field to shorten their journey to Kaede's village. The grass was long and came up to mid- thigh. The sky above was blue with the absence of white clouds. The weather was beautiful; this would have been a great day. But the exhaustion from the events of the last fifteen hours was weighing heavy on both their minds.

“I know…” Kagome replied in a shaky voice. Once again, the tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably. “I don't want to cry, I know they're in a better place, but… I can't help it!” she exclaimed.

Inuyasha was surprised at her reaction to his statement meant to reassure her and was beginning to regret he had said anything at all. He hated it when she cried. He never knew how to stop the tears. He could protect her from demons and specters with brute strength but he couldn't protect her against her own emotions and feelings. “I'm sorry… I didn't…I didn't mean to remind you… it's hard to think of anything else.”

The smell of salt in her tears was almost more than he could take. It was driving him crazy. Her scent and the smell of her tears were overwhelming, and soon that was all he was able to concentrate on.

They stopped walking toward the village in order to get their emotions under better control. Kagome sat down in the long grass and brought her knees up to her chest, tears still rolling down her cheeks. Inuyasha sat down along with her and studied her with bright golden eyes. Unexpectedly, Kagome turned to him and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and continued sobbing. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer, instinctively. Her pain was radiating off of her and into him. It was so hard; it didn't look like things would get any easier.

After a short while they withdrew from each other and stared on in silence. “I'm sorry…” stuttered Kagome, “I don't mean to be… so… so emotional. It's just an overload.” Her tears were subsiding now, and Inuyasha was careful not to make the tears flow freely again.

“I understand. I feel it too,” he said as his voice cracked and he looked down at the ground.

“Inuyasha…” said Kagome in quiet awe, raising her hand to his cheek. Inuyasha was so surprised at the touch of flesh he drew back and raised his eyes to Kagome's. She put her hands in her lap, averted her eyes as a rush of color erupted in her cheeks and chagrin was evident in her expression. A long silence broke out around them and the air grew thick. The quiet was deafening and threatened to swallow them alive.

Inuyasha finally decided on an action meant to cut through the void and expunge some of the embarrassment Kagome was obviously feeling.

He grabbed her small hand still in her lap. She looked up to find him staring strait into her. His eyes bore into hers and refused to let them go. Slowly, he leaned towards her; their lips only centimeters apart. As they embraced in a kiss, an explosion of goose bumps covered her skin. They connected in such a way that neither Kagome nor Inuyasha ever wanted to let go. The taste of him lingered on her lips as he reluctantly pulled away. The smell of her stayed with him long after he pulled back.

“Well… that's one way to get my mind off things…” said Kagome in barely a whisper. Inuyasha smiled at her and relief washed over his features in a flood. His plan had worked, but now what?

He stood suddenly and helped her to her feet but kept her hand in his. He was anxious for a distraction, anything to get their minds off of the unexpected contact that had just occurred. In silence, they walked back down the hill to Kaede's village, not daring to look at each other.

Did that really just happen? Kagome asked herself. I didn't just imagine that did I? After stealing a glance at Inuyasha's face, she assured herself, no, definitely not.

Why did he have to do that? He could have done something else to distract me…

But you're glad he didn't.

What?! No, no, I wish he had said something or… or…

Deepened the kiss?

No!

Fess up. You liked it.

………I hate you………

 

 

Inuyasha was well aware of the heat in his cheeks and the uneasiness in his step. Kami, I hope she doesn't look at me… what was I thinking? I cant believe I just did that. Stupid baka! Oh, hell…

Admit it.

Admit what?

Admit that you liked “THE Kiss”.

No way. I was just trying to distract her…

Maybe so, but you had an alternate motive.

Did not.

Did so.

…Shut up.

Chuckles answered him as his already red face escalated to an even deeper shade.

 

 

As they reached the edge of the village, they were reminded all too well of the recent deaths that had occurred; Kaede was there to greet them. Immediately after seeing the look in both Kagome and Inuyasha's eyes, Kaede knew the others were dead. Kagome held out their segment of the jewel, the shard from Kohaku's back, and the large portion which had belonged to Naraku. Kaede folded Kagome's fingers back over her palm, implying that they would deal with the jewel later.

“Ye need your rest, come and gather your strength,” she said as she led Kagome and Inuyasha into her nearby hut. In the middle of the hut was a fire pit in the floor and pots nearby. The floor was covered with wood and Inuyasha quickly noticed only one sleeping mat on the floor. After a curt nod to both of them, Kaede took her leave.

“Come on, we have to get some sleep,” said Inuyasha as he lay down and gestured for her to join him. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him, as his arm supported her around the back. Kagome was grateful Inuyasha was letting her sleep with him. When her father had died, she had had nightmares for well over a month. Three of her closest friends had just died, the pain was much worse than it was back then. Perhaps if she was with Inuyasha, she would be able to sleep peacefully. She let her heavy eyelids drift close as exhaustion took hold and sleep overwhelmed them both.