InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Changing Hearts? ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Changing Hearts?

*********************************************************************** *

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inu Yasha and company. I do however own the idea...I think.

***************************************************************** *******

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for all the reviews, I/K fans and K/M fans alike. Like I said, I honestly don't know where they are heading with this, or which pairing is going to make it through to the end. As always, I accept suggestions, just don't get upset if I don't use them. Its like I have been taken hostage by my own imagination. I am just watching from the sidelines. I hope that you like it. Read and enjoy... Review if you want, I love hearing from you all. = D

********************************************************************** **

Chapter 4

Sango had been waiting for her friends to return for days. She hoped that they hadn't encountered something that they couldn't handle. If they didn't return soon, she would go looking for them. It was strange how things change. When she had been sent out on extermination trips on her own by her father, she had enjoyed working alone. Now she would rather be with the little group that had become her new family. It almost made her laugh aloud when she thought of their strange little band. Who would have ever put them together? A demon exterminator, a hanyou who wanted to be nothing more than to become a full youkai, a kitsune child, a cursed monk who was also a letch and perhaps strangest of all, a young girl from the future.

She looked up and jumped to her feet in joy. They had finally returned. The sun was setting behind them in a glorious display of reds and oranges. They were nothing but shadows against the brightness, but she would have known them anywhere. Kagome was in the center of the two men, and Shippo was on her shoulder. She could just imagine the kitsune's bright chatter. She had missed them all.

As she watched them approach, she noticed that there seemed to be some tension in the group. Kagome was walking with her head down. The two males kept darting little glances at her and then would shoot hard looks at one another. Only Shippo seemed oblivious. Oh, to be a fox child Sango thought with a chuckle. She wondered what could have possibly happened to cause this rift between them. She had a feeling that a certain hard-headed hanyou was involved somehow.

None of them had noticed her yet, so she continued to observe them. The monk said something and Kagome looked up at him with a bright smile. Both he and Shippo laughed, but the look on the face of the perverted priest was not only one of humor. She then distinctly heard Inu Yasha's growl, even from this distance. Her eyes widened in shock. They were both in love with her, and Kagome didn't seem to realize it. This did not bode well for her little group. She had to talk to Kagome, and soon.

Almost as if the younger girl had heard her thought, she looked up into the concerned eyes of her best friend. With a yell and a wave, she began running toward the older girl. Sango had to smile. Kagome was younger than she had ever been, as her training had kept her from being a normal little girl. Kagome's spirit was so free and full of life and love. It was no wonder both of their companions had fallen for her. She drew you in like a moth to a flame. Sango returned her embrace and then pushed her gently away.

"So what happened?" She didn't expect to see Kagome's eyes drop to the ground and the color to drain from her cheeks. Even Shippo lost his cheerful grin. Something had happened, and it was serious. They were definitely going to have to talk soon. Kagome slipped past her and entered Kaede's hut without a word.

"Welcome back you guys. I was just about to come looking for you." She turned to Miroku and Inu Yasha, only to find them glaring at one another. They completely ignored her. She waved a hand in front of Inu Yasha's face. "Did you get any shards?" He just mumbled a yes and followed Kagome into the hut.

"Its nice to see that you are well and unharmed Sango. How did your mission go?"

"There was a demon. I killed it. Are you purposely trying to come between them?" she asked. He held her gaze for a long moment and then shook his head.

"No, I am just letting nature take its course. Please don't ask me any more Sango. It is Kagome's tale to tell, not mine." He sighed. Then he plastered another serene smile on his face and looked at her hopefully. "Is there any food?"

She couldn't help but laugh. The men never seemed to get enough to eat. She had even begun to wonder if Inu Yasha didn't have some goat demon in his blood, the way that he inhaled everything. They walked into the hut, and the uncomfortable silence seemed to press down on her immediately. She watched as they interacted with each other.

Inu Yasha sat across from Kagome, watching her intensely. Kagome was trying to look anywhere but at the hanyou. Kaede was also watching them closely. Shippo was stealing food from Inu Yasha's plate, which looked like it hadn't been touched. Miroku accepted his plate from the elderly miko and gave her a polite bow before sitting beside Kagome. He smiled at Kagome, but she only managed half of one in return.

Sango couldn't take it any longer. Kagome was just picking at her dinner anyway. She needed to know what was going on, all of it, and she needed to know now. There was no way she was going to lose her new family if there was any way to prevent it.

"Kagome, do you want to go take a bath?" The younger girl nodded and shot her a grateful smile. She collected her bath items and was out the door in record time. "You, pervert, stay here." Sango eyed him, but the serene little smile remained.

"Of course Sango. Enjoy your bath." She saw his eyes glaze over and she shook her head. She knew where his thoughts had gone, but wasn't certain if she could hit him for something he hadn't said or groped. She let it go for the time being.

"He won't be going anywhere." Inu Yasha growled. Now that Kagome had moved, his eyes were locked on his new rival. He had seen the smile that had passed between the monk and Kagome, and had felt his heart constrict yet again. She could barely look at him, not that he blamed her. After the girls left, the priest made no move to follow. In fact, he was now returning Inu Yasha's stare.

"You need to talk. Do not destroy my house or you will be rebuilding it. Shippo, you come with me." Kaede said suddenly. They had forgotten that she was there.

"We won't." Inu Yasha snarled. Miroku smiled at her and waved her away. Kaede looked far from certain about leaving them together, but leave she did. The two men continued to stare at each other for awhile, then Miroku dropped his eyes. This was pointless.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked.

"Nothing. I don't want to hear anything from you. You are trying to take what is mine, and I am warning you to stop."

"Take what is yours?" Miroku looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "Are you insane? Right now, Kagome belongs to no one but herself."

"Damn it, you know what I mean."

"No, I don't. Have you decided to give up on Kikyo? To give Kagome the love and respect that she deserves? Or are you going to run off to the woman that tried to kill her for the second time today?" He really wasn't certain what the hanyou was saying. If he had decided to give up on the dead miko, then he really had no course of action but to step back. Kagome had told him herself that she loved the fool.

"Again? "What do you mean again?" Inu Yasha's eyes glittered dangerously.

"Have you already forgotten our time in the miasma. Those cursed vines? Kikyo shooting at Kagome with one of her damned arrows?" His voice had risen again as he thought of what the dead miko had tried to do to Kagome, and the hanyou had forgotten.

"She never told me. I asked, but she just told me not to."

"She didn't tell you because she knew it would hurt you. And unlike some..." the contempt was apparent in his voice, "she doesn't want to bring pain to those that she cares about, even if it means hurting herself in the process." Miroku struggled to get his emotions under control again. "I told you before, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. No one does."

"Are you in love with her?" Inu Yasha whispered. He knew the answer but had to hear it straight from the source.

"Are you?"

"I am not free."

"And you think that I am?" Miroku demanded. He shoved his gloved hand under the hanyou's nose. "Do you remember this? I don't know how much time I have left before I disappear into this damned void, but I am going to make every day I do have left count. You didn't answer the question."

"It was my question, and I asked you first." Inu Yasha pouted.

"I may be falling in love with her yes. And it is no fault but your own. Every time you made her cry, I wiped her tears. That will change anyone. But it is her decision as to whom she wants to be with." Inu Yasha nodded sadly. Could he stand by and let her be with someone else? He just didn't know. Being the cause of his current predicament didn't help his wounded heart either.

"Now it is your turn to answer."

"I love her. Everyone knows that...except for her. But that changes nothing, I will return to Kikyo if she needs me. I have no choice." Miroku shook his head in disbelief. He was more of a fool than Miroku had thought.

"Then let me give you some advice, as a friend, even if it may hurt my chances with Kagome. I told her this just last night, and now it seems that you need to hear it as well. There is always a choice Inu Yasha. But beware, because the choice that you make may push her beyond her limits to forgive. You would be returning to the...uh...woman that has tried to kill her twice and is trying to take someone she cares about into the depths of hell. Kagome is strong, but people can take only so much before they break. If she turns to someone else because of it, you would have no one to blame but yourself."

"You just don't understand..."

"You are right, I don't. And I don't want to. But here is another piece of advice, you may want to deliver it to that woman that you run off to meet. If she tries to harm Kagome again, she won't have to wait to take you to hell, I will suck her into the void myself." Miroku's eyes shone in the dark, and the threat in his tone was unmistakable. "I didn't do it this time for your sake and for the fact that she looks human. I will have no such qualms next time. Now I know better."

"If she tries to hurt Kagome again, she will be dead before you get there." Inu Yasha said softly as he got up and left the hut. He settled down on the porch and looked up at the stars. They had come to a small understanding, but he was very afraid that his decision had already been made for him.

Miroku watched him go, feeling badly for his friend's indecision and heartache but still determined to do what was right for the other party involved. Kagome. He had been serious, if Inu Yasha said that he was willing to give up on Kikyo, he would have stepped back immediately into the role of Kagome's friend without a single regret. He would still be close to her. And if his angel chose him, well then, he would be in Heaven.