InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost of Love ❯ chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Throughout the morning Kagome had followed quietly, the youkai ahead of her silent as they trekked towards the shrine. The miko wished her two friendly wolf companions hadn't disappeared after they had led her to Inuyasha. Surely she wouldn't feel so alone right now if that beautiful wolf was there by her side.

This feeling was so strange. Childishly she had thought that once she found him, they would instantly go back to the way they had been. Foolish thoughts from the mind of a young girl. After the past year she had spent in the harshness of this world she should have known better. Time not only separates but changes as well. With their sweet reunion behind them, they both were struggling with the awkwardness of being suddenly thrust into each other's company.

Neither one being the same person they had been before the last days of Naraku and the jewel. The distance between them could be felt in the air. Luckily for Kagome, Sumire had suddenly hung back with her and broken the tension.

The young youkai had talked softly about her island home. Their conversation nothing more than pleasant and casual conversation. To Kagome it was obvious that Sumire was simply trying to ease the tension she was feeling. How odd for a youkai to act in such a way? Kagome had met very few youkai that were openly kind in any way. Only the few hanyou she had encountered had exhibited such human like characteristics. From the sounds of things Sumire was full blood youkai.

“Kagome-chan, you must not worry so over him.” Sumire nudged the miko, her head nodding towards the hanyou who had put some distance between them. “In the months that I have known him, he has done nothing but speak praise about you.”

“Really?,” Kagome whispered back, her eyes never leaving the strong form of the man ahead of her.

Sumire smiled back reassuringly. “He hasn't stopped hoping for your return. I often wondered if he would ever be reunited with you. Sorry for going on and on Kagome-chan. It's just that after hearing so much about you I feel as if I know you already.”

“That's fine Sumire-san, I'm thankful for the distraction. It seems that I have forgotten how to act around him.” Kagome smiled sadly as she watched the village come into view in the distance. Her chances on tackling the odd spectrum of emotions she was battling with were beginning to look slim.

'Being alone' was a hard concept for the family they would soon be seeing to grasp. Sango and Miroku, being the parental adults they now were, surely would object to the sleeping arrangements they all had shared in the past. It had been in those moments, late at night, that she had often worked out the misunderstandings between her and Inuyasha. This time there would be no midnight fires to sit around with as Inuyasha and she spoke of such matters. Kami she wished they still were traveling.

Days would be spent with her tending to regular miko duties. How in the world was she going to be able to confront Inuyasha if she was busy all the time? For the past year she had longed for this moment yet not once had she explored the possible reality after their reunion. Her flowery visions had only been of him, not of the life they would live from that moment on.

Reluctantly she pulled herself towards the back entrance to the shrine. The same one she had slipped through with the wolf in the dark of night. Drawing in a deep breath she prepared herself for her first step in her new life.

“Kagome-chan! Inuyasha!” A strong voice called out the moment she passed through the entrance. It was easy to spot the form of Sango heading towards her.

Kagome lifted a hand in response as she followed the red form ahead of her. Feeling like something was missing she noticed Sumire was nowhere in sight. It didn't take long for her own senses to locate the missing youkai. Returning to the entrance she reached her arm around the corner, successfully latching onto Sumire's sleeve.

“I'm fine out here,” Sumire mumbled in protest as Kagome pulled her into the shrine grounds.

“You aren't staying out there. You'll like these people I promise.” Kagome offered encouragement as they once again moved forward.

“It's not that. I mean, he's probably here right?”

“Who?”

“Sesshoumaru-sama, ” Sumire breathed the name as if afraid speaking it out loud would manifest the devil himself.

Kagome laughed as she watched the woman beside her scan the grounds. “Not likely. He never comes here. The odd time I feel him pass near but he only goes by when he's on his way to visit Rin-chan.”

The miko squeezed Sumire's hand in reassurance before turning her attention to her surrogate family.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. The men had left to help a villager whose house had burnt down in the night. Kagome took their absence as an opportunity to make her rounds as a healer. The evening had come and gone in a blink of an eye. She had enjoyed watching the interaction between her old companions and Sumire as they spent the fading day getting to know one another. The tension seemingly vanished as they all had somehow managed to fall into a comfortable conversation.

Inuyasha and Miroku had returned just after dark and now Kagome couldn't help but steel chaste glances across the fire at her hanyou. So much had changed and so little remained. She could relax by the fire with her friends, no fear of Naraku invading her peace. How did Inuyasha feel about everything now? She blushed heavily when his eyes met hers across the flames. A thin smile forming on his lips.

Was he amused by her reaction? Another quick glimpse and she noted the sparkle in his eyes. He was laughing at her! This was a side she had never seen. Inuyasha had been a youth plagued by adversity. He had struggled accepting himself and had been hell bent to prove himself. Rare were his moments of happiness when they had traveled across the lands in search of the shards. He had gained so much from his friends during that year and lost so much at the same time. Never would Kagome forget the pain he had suffered when Kikyo had been taken from them all. Those days had reshaped a formerly disgraced hanyou, turning him into a magnificent man.

Then there was the span of absence that left her wondering. Just what had he been through in the years she had been gone? Was he truly free to enjoy his life now? More importantly though, why the hell did he find her so amusing? His eyes tinkled with mirth as he caught her blushes each and every time.

“Kagome-chan, it's getting late. I think we will retire now. In the morning I would like you to accompany me to the village. I think they could use a moral boost after the fire.” Miroku spoke softly, his hand on the back of his wife in a guiding gesture. The pair smiled softly before leaving Inuyasha, Sumire and Kagome.

“Kagome-chan, would you mind if I retired to your quarters ahead of you?” Sumire was quick to follow the lead of elder pair.

“No, not at all.” Kagome smiled kindly to the youkai beside her.

“Oh, Sumire-sama. I had my daughter draw you a hot bath. Please make use of it before you retire. You have been traveling so long, it would surely be nice to wash the evidence of your travels from yourself.” Sango offered before following her husband down the hallway.

“A bath sounds wonderful!” Sumire stretched. She gave Kagome a quick wink before disappearing outside in the direction of the bath house.

“Feh! Women and the baths. I don't see what's so wonderful about it. Too damn hot for me!” Inuyasha grumbled as the outline of the youkai disappeared.

“How long before Sesshoumaru comes for her?” Kagome asked.

“He doesn't know about her.”

“What!” Kagome gasped staring in amazement at the confession.

“I leave in the morning to go track down that baka.” Inuyasha smiled sadly at Kagome.

Kagome stared into the small fire. So that's how it was going to be. He was again to disappear after so suddenly joining her. Fate could be cruel. The awkwardness that had filled the air seemed so dense, suffocating the very breath from her lungs.

Distracting herself from such disheartening thoughts she inquired about the young, tomboyish youkai and her connection with the taiyoukai. Listening to such a topic would surely keep her thoughts from straying again.

“I can't really say I know too much. Myoga gave me the short story when he asked me to fetch her. Seems like her father and mine were pretty close. They arranged the union shortly before my father's death.” Inuyasha poked at the fire before tucking his hands into his sleeves and leaning back against the wall. His piercing gaze intensified when the stoked fire burned brighter and the flames reflected in his eyes.

“Her old man fought beside mine. I don't know the details but I got a hunch that there was something special about her birth. The old flee was pretty dodgy when I asked him why she was chosen. I think it was more than just outta the closeness of our parents. Anyhow, her father died in a battle with youkai from the mainland months before mine did. She was spirited away by her father's retainers and that was the last time anyone had seen her.”

“So Sesshoumaru really has no idea? I wonder how that will go over?” Kagome mused.

Inuyasha shook his head in disagreement. “Remember, they already are bound by the scent ritual. He knows about the marriage partner. He just doesn't know that I went to fetch her.”

“Right, sorry I forgot about that.” Kagome rubbed her head. It wasn't like her to forget something that she had discussed only the day before. The stress of all that had happened must be getting to her.

“It's alright, I imagine you've had a great deal to think about in the last day.” He smiled at her reassuringly.

“How long will you be gone?” It was no use, she couldn't get the thought of their separation out of her mind. Kagome didn't even bother to mask the desperation in her voice. Her eyes grew misty and in one moment she went from staring at him across the flames to being wrapped tightly in his arms.

With crushing force his lips crashed down upon hers. Feverishly releasing the tension that had been building between them, the two embraced. Her fists knotted in his haori as she held on for dear life. Never pulling away from the fierceness of his kiss only allowing his distraction to drain the fears that had been building up within her.
This was the reunion she had dreamed of. The raw emotions that she had known would overtake the both of them. She thanked the kami for the moment of privacy they had been granted. Inuyasha's grip on her lessened and she reluctantly withdrew. She giggled at the look of lazy contentment that had washed over her hanyou. He looked so goofy grinning back at her.

“Finally a smile.” Reaching out he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered on her face momentarily before wrapping a silken strand around them.

His unabashed actions were so different than what she had expected. He glowed with confidence and not a single hint of hesitance lingered around him. Just who was this man. Man... the word suddenly took on new meaning. She had left a boy and returned to find just that. A full fledged man.

Kagome caught her breath as he leaned in close to her. His eyes reflecting her own when his forehead pushed against hers.

“Do you know how long I've been waiting to do that? I thought Miroku and the girls were never going to leave.” A crooked smile flashed and he laughed heartily.

Kagome squealed with surprise when she was suddenly scooped up and thrown into the air. Inuyasha caught her with ease, twirling her around the moment she was secured in his arms. Caught up in his playful mood, she laughed giddily as she was swung around. Setting her down gently, Inuyasha kissed her lips lightly.

Then he turned heel and knelt, his arms stretched behind him in the old expectant fashion. He sent her a mischievous look over his shoulder. “Come on Kagome, I've suddenly got too much energy. Whaddya say we go burn some of it off?”

She didn't even have time to think. Her body moved on its own accord, her arms wrapping around his neck and her thighs squeezing tightly around his waist. Before she knew it they were outside and the wind was rushing past her face.

Miroku and Sango smiled to each other as they stared out into the night. The wonderful sound of a young girls laughter echoed on the cool breeze. The pale moonlight revealing a streak of white before the pair disappeared into the forest beyond the shrine grounds.

“It's good to hear that laugh once again isn't it love.” Miroku held on tightly to the woman in his arms.

“Music to my ears!” Sango smiled brightly.

“Love is an amazing thing isn't it. It has the power to connect, change and overcome time itself. I think things are going to get a great deal more lively around here again.” Miroku lowered his head and kissed his wife's lips with the same passion they had known the last time that laughter had echoed through the forest so many years before.

A/N: Grins sheepishly – It's been awhile! Life's been too crazy. Blame the delay on my pregnancy and new baby girl. I've returned and I must say it's great to be back.

Thanks as always to my wonderful beta Kokoronagomu – luvs ya!