InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Goddess of the Past ❯ Strong Emotions ( Chapter 6 )

"SIT!"

Inuyasha's face went smack into the earth.

"Sit, sit, sit, SIT!!!" Kagome was fuming mad and breathing heavy from her rage.

"Inuyasha, you are so selfish!" Kagome turned and walked back into the forest, no longer able to stand the sight of the pathetic hanyou in front of her.

When Kagome reached the spot she had been looking for, she heaved an audible sigh, and she sat down in the soft grass. The sound of the trickling river and the calm breeze flowing through her ebony tresses helped to calm her anger. Kagome took of her shoes and socks, and she gently placed her bare feet in the cool, running waters.

"Ah…" Kagome lied down in the grass with her feet remaining in the water. Why does he have to be so damn stubborn?

Then Kagome sensed two, no three auras slowly approaching her location. They were three auras she knew very well. Will they ever give up? Without moving a hair, Kagome tracked the three energies until two of them stopped their approached and remained still while the third was now only an audible distance away.

"Hello, Sango."

The older girl knew very well that Kagome could sense her energy and knew she was coming. But that still didn't prevent her from being surprised when Kagome had called out her name before she had even made a sound. Nevertheless, she quickly made her way over to the girl.

"Kagome?"

"Yes Sango?" Kagome tried to keep her voice as stoic as possible. She didn't want Sango to get hit with the raging ice that Inuyasha had created.

"Are you alright? You seemed rather upset back there." Sango tried to look at Kagome, but the miko kept her gaze to the fire lined sky, which was becoming darker by the minute.

"Oh, that? That was just several weeks of built up frustration let loose. Sorry if I worried you." Kagome could feel her anger disappearing as quickly as the sun.

Sango sighed, relieved that nothing was seriously wrong in her friend's life. "It was just… you were so much harder on Inuyasha that usual. Not that he didn't deserve it, you just usually have more patience than that."

"Sango, I just got fed up with him. For weeks, he's been moody and acted like he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He took out all his anger on everyone else, and especially me. Now he's acting like I wanted this to happen, just to make his life harder. And he knows I had absolutely no control over it. I just snapped! What he needs now is to be put in his place, and if that require a few sets of subduing spells then so be it."

Sango then realized how worried Kagome really was about their new situation. "Kagome, honestly, what is the worst that could happen? This girl can't be that much of a threat, can she?

"Sango, she could find out everything. Everything that goes on in my life, she could discover the truth."

"And then what? She'll tell someone about it? Who would believe her? I know I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't met you myself. You are the only one who can go through the well from your time. She won't have any proof. Plus, she may not even find out. She could come and go and not suspect a thing."

"Sango, three months is a long time."

"Months? What are months?"

Kagome smiled at her error. She often forgot that some of her words were nonexistent for her friends. "A month is equal to one cycle of the moon."

"Oh." Sango nodded. She decided it was time for Kagome to start being honest with herself. "Kagome, what's the real reason you're so angry at Inuyasha?"

Kagome was surprised at her friend's rather blunt question, but kept her gaze to the sky. Sango always could tell if was hiding something. After all this time I don't know why I'm surprised at that. Kagome smiled to herself, glad that she had Sango here with her. But she can't truly understand how I'm feeling. The person she cares about feels the same way. I don't care what they say, Miroku loves her and she loves him. They just won't say it out loud. She can't possibly realize how hard it is; not knowing if the one person you have feelings for returns those emotions.

Finally Kagome turned her gaze to meet that of Sango's. Kagome could feel her emotions beginning to overflow.

"Sango…"

Sango could see the tears brimming her friend's eyes and she was filled with understanding. "Oh, Kagome." She took the younger girl into her arms trying to comfort her as she would a little sister.

Kagome just let her tears fall silently into the older girl's lap. Memories of the past few weeks flooded into her mind, pushing more tears out. But the most vivid images were those of only a few moments ago. The proof that she really had no idea what Inuyasha thought of her. And that maybe she really didn't understand him at all.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * Flashback ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kagome held her breath as she waited for her friends to respond to what she had said. Miroku had a pensive look upon his face. He knew exactly what this meant, for everyone, just as Kagome expected he would. Sango just looked worried. Shippou kept his head down, completely distraught at the idea he would see even less of Kagome. And Inuyasha was staring at the mountains in the distance, from his place in the tree behind Kagome. Thankfully Miroku was the first to speak.

"So, as I understand it, you will have to stay mostly in you era, and will be spending a considerably lesser amount of time here. Five days there, two day here and so forth?" Miroku was trying to avoid the inevitable dispute coming, by being the voice of reason.

"Yes, Miroku. However I am hoping that if you all continue without me, and I use Kiara to get to you on the days I come through the well, that it won't hinder our mission too much."

"And you're certain that this American won't become suspicious when you disappear for two days at a time?"

"At this point we can't be certain of anything, but my mother and I shall deal with the girl. You only need to concern yourselves with the issue of the jewel."

Miroku, Sango, and Shippou nodded in agreement. They seemed to understand that, while this was not a good situation they had been put in, there was nothing they could do to alter it. But they were not the ones that Kagome was worried about.

"Inuyasha, you've been rather quiet. What do you think about all this?" Kagome looked up to meet the golden eyes of her companion.

"What do I think?" He jumped down from the tree silently. "What do I think?" Kagome was getting nervous. She could feel a large argument following the few words the hanyou had spoken. "I think you're all insane if you think that this is a good idea. Kagome without the jewel, we can accomplish nothing. We need you here. Do honestly believe that this girl is stupid enough to miss your extended absence. I admit that there are some stupid humans in the world, but how stupid can this girl be, if she's allowed on this "exchange" as you call it. There is no way for you to come out of this unscathed. Either this girl will find out what you're doing and cause all sorts of problems, or the jewel will sap your strength and could possible kill you. And without you the jewel goes back to being tainted and all our work was for nothing. You're not going back and I'll seal up the well again if I have to."

Kagome was not very irritated. She was extremely irritated, bordering on pissed. She couldn't believe that Inuyasha could just stand there and insult her intelligence that way. She knew that this was risky, but there was no was to avoid it. Inuyasha was just being stubborn and overbearing like he always is.

"Inuyasha don't you think I thought of all those things? And couldn't you just consider the idea that this could work. You need to give me a little credit here."

"No way. We need you here." Inuyasha pointed to the ground by his feet to emphasize his point. "Without you and the jewel, the mission is pointless. You're not going back there and that's it!" Inuyasha crossed his arms defiantly to show he was done discussing it.

"Are you ordering me to stay?! Kagome spoke calmly, but intently. The others became rather concerned for Inuyasha, they all knew this was the calm before the hurricane. But Inuyasha failed t o notice.

"Yeah. What of it?" Inuyasha didn't even turn to look at her. If he had, he might have not spoken those words.

"Did you ever stop to consider my feelings?! That maybe I have no choice and if I don't do this there could be major consequences that you didn't even think about! Consequence that I don't want to deal with!!!

Inuyasha just look at her with a blank expression before responding. "Kagome I'm not arguing with you about this. You are staying here!"

Kagome clenched her fists and tried to suppress the anger building inside of her. Nope, not gonna work.

"Inuyasha…"

The hanyou turned to look at her, but met the gaze of a very angry miko. Kagome's aura was slightly visible and it was red. Oops.

"…SIT!"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ End Flashback ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Kagome slowly sat up and wiped away her tears. She splashed some of the stream water on to her face to cool her now hot skin. "Sango, thanks for listening. It helps."

"Kagome. Maybe you should try to look deeper into Inuyasha's actions."

"What do you mean?" Kagome was confused by her friend's suggestion.

"Well, this is just a theory Miroku came up with, but we think that Inuyasha is just trying to find a way to deal with his built up emotions." Kagome stated at her with a questioning look. "Think about it, for years we ran around looking for the shards and chasing Naraku. Plus he had to deal with Kikyo's betrayal on top of all that." Kagome flinched at the mention of the dead miko's name. She could still remember the look of horror on Inuyasha's face when Kikyo allied herself with Naraku. Sango's voice brought her out of her memories. "And all that time he kept on his tough face. He never once let on if he was feeling anything, except maybe anger." Kagome gave a small laugh at Sango's attempt at sarcasm.

"Miroku and I believe that Inuyasha is finally feeling the burn from all those emotions inside of him. With nothing left to distract him, he can't ignore those feeling any longer. And he doesn't know how to handle it, so he takes out his frustration on us."

Kagome thought on what Sango had said for a moment. It does seem logical. But why is he so against me being away if all he does is yell at me?

"Sango why do you think he is so against this plan? If what you say is indeed the truth, wouldn't he be glad to have one less person to deal with?"

"Kagome, don't you see? You are the one thing that can take his mind off his problems. Everyday he protects you so fiercely. You are the only thing that brings him any good emotion. How can you not see that he cares so much?"

"Because he yells and screams and calls me 'wench' whenever his is in a foul mood. And lately, that is rather often."

Sango sighed. Everything she just said seemed to have gone in one ear and out the other. Well, I'll just have to let her figure it out on her own for now. She can't see what she doesn't want to see.

Sango decided to change the subject. "Kagome, I believe we have an audience." She lowered her voice for only the girl beside her to hear.

Kagome turned and heard a rustle in the bushes. She then heard a very familiar "Shh."

Kagome laughed softly. "Yes, Sango. I already know. Shall I teach them a lesson?" A smirk crept onto the miko's lips.

Sango nodded and looked at her expectantly.

"Watch this." Kagome lifted her right hand and held it in the direction of the noise. She made a fist as her hand began to glow a light rouge. Then another rustle came from the bushes. Two figures suddenly rose into the air from the vegetation surrounded in the same red glow as Kagome's fist. Sango began to laugh. Kagome brought the figures towards Sango and herself, until they were in clear view. "Hello Shippou. Miroku. Nice day?"

Sango was now rolling on the forest floor with laughter. The sight of that lecherous monk and a fox kit floating in midair at the will of her best friend was just too much for her.

"Uh, Lady Kagome. I see your powers have increased, heh?" Miroku half-grinned.

That did it.

Kagome now joined Sango on the ground, hysterically laughing at the monk's sarcastic words. Kagome eventually forgot about the kitsune and monk she was holding in the air and the energy holding them there disappeared abruptly. Miroku landed hard on his rear, causing Sango to go into stitches from how hard she was laughing, and Shippou landed on the monk's head, clinging on so not to fall to the hard ground.

The girls continued to laugh a bit longer. Finally, after seeing the perplexed look on Miroku's face, they regained their composure. Though, they were not at all sorry for their actions.

"Thanks, Miroku." Kagome patted him on the shoulder. "I needed a good laugh." Miroku raised an eyebrow at her, causing Sango to giggle quietly, though she tried to control herself. However, the monk quickly took control of her distraction and allowed his wandering hand to roam.

Sango's laughter immediately halted when she felt a familiar hand traveling too low on her back. "HENTAI!" Miroku's hand rewarded his face with a fresh red handprint on his cheek.

Kagome was back on the ground laughing at the couple's antics. But this time, she was joined by Shippou.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Inuyasha was listening to the girls from a tree a few feet from the clearing. He came running to the area when he had smelled the salt of Kagome's tears. But he decided to simply listen when he heard Sango's voice.

"Well, this is just a theory…"

Inuyasha listened intently to every word the girls said. Damn that monk, he too intuitive for his own good. But, am I that easy to read? The hanyou watched Kagome as she contradicted what Sango had said. At least she doesn't believe it. I can still be around her if she doesn't know the truth.

But then Kagome's words made him stop his thinking and brought him back to reality. "Because he yells and screams and calls me 'wench' whenever his is in a foul mood." Inuyasha could hear the hurt behind her words, even if she was able to hind it from Sango with anger.

Am I that hurtful towards her? But why? What is causing me to act this way? I can't get too close to her and I know why. But what is the reason for me being so critical of her?

Inuyasha was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear what the girls were saying. But a rustle in one of the bushes near his tree caught his attention. He got ready to strike at the next movement, but stopped when he felt a strong aura powering up nearby. Then he realized it was Kagome's. He heard another sound come from the bush. But he had look back to the girls as his ears went flat from the sound of Sango's laughter.

Inuyasha silently changed his position so he had a better view of what was going on in the clearing. His mouth practically hung open when he saw Miroku and Shippou floating in the air. And being held there by Kagome.

Maybe I gave that monk too much credit.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Hours later back at the campsite, Kagome and Shippou were asleep in one of her sleeping bags and Inuyasha had taken Kiara to patrol the area for demons. Miroku and Sango were talking quietly.

"What did you do that?" Miroku looked intently at the girl sitting across from him.

"Do what?"

"You know what. Why did you expose Shippou and myself to Kagome today?"

Sango grinned at the memory of his floating figure from earlier. But she became serious again after looking into Miroku's deep violet eyes. "I did it so I would keep Kagome's trust. She already knew you were there, and she very well that I could sense it as well. If she thought I was keeping things from her, then she would become suspicious. I need her to be completely trusting if this is going to work. And you need the same from Inuyasha. We need them to be completely willing if we are going to clear their vision."

"I know the plan, Sango. I just failed to see why it necessary to sacrifice my ass in the process." Miroku looked none too pleased. But Sango wasn't fazed.

"Just call it pay back for those lecherous hand of yours." Miroku tried to look offended, but Sango was already laughing at him again.

"Oh you find this funny do you?" Miroku launched himself on top of the huntress and tried to pin her down. Unfortunately for him, she was much stronger than she looked. They wrestled and rolled, struggling for control, until they were a large distance from the camp's firelight.

Finally, after a great deal of effort and aching muscles, they both gave up the struggle. They were laughing lightly between their breaths. Sango looked up into Miroku's eyes, deep brown meeting amethyst purple. The two soon stopped their laughter, and Sango had to push away a rising blush when she remembered that Miroku was on top of her.

But Miroku saw the quick flash of red rise in her cheeks and shifted himself so that he was lying beside her. But their eyes never left on another, neither was willing to break the intense trance they had formed. Miroku slowly brought his left hand to her face, and cupped her cheek in his palm. He prepared for the usual smack that surely would follow. It never came.

Sango continued to look into his eyes, lost in the beautiful dark hues. She felt him shift his weight to his right arm so he could move closer to her. She decided to do the same, only on her left. As the space between them became smaller and smaller, Sango could feel her heart beating faster and harder against her chest.

They were so closer now that their breaths became intertwined. But Miroku stopped just before their skin contacted.

"Sango, I…" But Sango had finished what both of them had started. She went through the small amount of air left between them and pressed her lips firmly against his.

Miroku moved his hand from her cheek to the base of her neck and put his other hand against the middle of her back. He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss.

Sango had both hands placed strongly around his neck. She could feel her nerve ends dancing everywhere they touched. Their lips, his hands on her back, her chest pressed against his, even their intertwined legs.

After what seemed like both an eternity and a single moment all at once, they pulled back and could only look at each other. Sango was the one to break the trance, but only so she could place her head against his chest, his chin on top of it.

"Sango, I…" Miroku whispered, again trying to speak; only to be interrupted again.

"Shh, just sleep." He could feel her soft breath become deep and even against his chest, realizing she was nearly sleeping already. So he conceded, allowing them to simple fall into a deep slumber in each other's arms.

Tomorrow should prove interesting. Miroku drifted into a dreamless sleep, his beautiful angel sleeping against him.